Lanus vs. Boca Juniors
In a league somewhat prone to over-hyping matches a handful of games into the season, this top of the table clash on Sunday nevertheless looks unmissable. Lanus and Boca occupy the summit of the Apertura, and a win this weekend for either would leave them in a strong position for the rest of the campaign.
No-one has managed to beat the Grana this season, and fired by one of the best midfields in the league they took apart Argentinos Juniors last week in a 4-0 thrashing. Mauro Camoranesi, Diego Valeri and Guido Pizarro are all in excellent form, while at the back just one goal has slipped Agustin Marchesin in the first six outings.
Boca are also yet to taste the bitter flavour of defeat this term, and have the luxury of picking an unchanged team after Juan Roman Riquelme proved his fitness. He and Walter Erviti have shown glimpses of a scintillating creative partnership; and if strikers Dario Cvitanich and Lucas Viatri can step up a gear in the penalty area, goals promise to flow for the Argentine powerhouses.
Prediction: It promises to be a gripping clash in Lanus, with both sides possessing more than enough to take all three points. If Boca hit form, however, they should just shade it, which is why a 2-1 Boca victory is a decent bet.
Friday's Action
New Independiente coach Ramon Diaz, complete with son and new assistant Emiliano, debuts in the Doble Visera with a tricky looking home tie with Colon in the first game of round seven. The Rojo have looked desperately short of form so far, but they will hope that the legendary trainer can inspire them past the Santafesinos and back to the top half of the table.
Godoy Cruz then gear up for a marathon trip down to Bahia Blanca to face Olimpo, but after a 6-1 demolition of All Boys at the weekend confidence will be high. And San Martin de San Juan will try for their second victory of the Apertura when they host a Belgrano team coming off the back of two wins against Argentina's grandes.
Saturday's Action
An accomplished display from dimunitive playmaker Diego Morales, below, helped Tigre to a surprise victory over Estudiantes last week, but adrift in the relegation mire the Matador need to keep picking up points. They will hoping for three more on Saturday, when Arsenal de Sarandi come to Victoria.
All Boys will be keen to memories of their six-goal mauling in Mendoza behind them; and who better to do it against than Banfield, who lie bottom of the pile with an impressively disastrous six defeats out of six matches. San Lorenzo will then try to climb out of the promocion with a victory over high-flying Rafaela, who could go top for at least a day if they can do the business in Bajo Flores.
Sunday's Action
Apertura champions Velez Sarsfield have lost three games in a row as they adjust to the loss of their stars to Italy, and will be desperate to return to winning ways. It won't be easy in Rosario, however, when they visit a Newell's Old Boys side that have proved draw experts in the early stages.
Two under-pressure coaches then meet in La Plata, with Miguel Angel Russo and Pedro Troglio both needing results to avoid the sack. Russo's Estudiantes host Argentinos Juniors in the Estadio Unico, with the two 2010 Primera champions languishing in 19th and 18th place respectively. The night is rounded off by Racing Club's visit to Santa Fe and Union; and Diego Simeone's team will know that if results go their way, a win could claim them the Apertura summit in the weekend's final fixture.
Full Fixtures and Predictions
| Independiente | 1 | 0 | Colon | Fri 17:00 |
| Olimpo | 1 | 1 | Godoy Cruz | 19:10 |
| San Martin (SJ) | 1 | 1 | Belgrano | 21:15 |
| Tigre | 2 | 0 | Arsenal | Sat 15:05 |
| All Boys | 1 | 0 | Banfield | 17:10 |
| San Lorenzo | 1 | 2 | Rafaela | 21:15 |
| Newell's | 0 | 1 | Velez | Sun 14:00 |
| Estudiantes | 0 | 0 | Argentinos | 16:00 |
| Lanus | 1 | 2 | Boca Jrs. | 18:10 |
| Union | 1 | 3 | Racing | 20:15 |
