Game of the Week: Olimpo vs. River Plate
As the Clausura runs rapidly towards its conclusion, two of its most successful teams meet on Sunday in a game which, thanks to Argentina's three year relegation table, is a must-win clash to avoid being dragged into the promocion and a nail-biting playoff at the end of the season. Newly promoted Olimpo half-expected to be in such a fight at the start of the season, while it is new territory for Nunez's faltering giants.
The sides come into the clash in the upper reaches of the 2011 table, but have been handicapped by two opposing problems; Olimpo in stopping goals going in, River putting them into the back of the net. The Aurinegro have played exciting, swashbuckling football after a nervous start to the 2010-11 season, with number 10 Martin Rolle and striker Nestor Bareiro establishing themselves as Primera Division players of quality. A win in Bahia Blanca would all but end their relegation worries and leave them ready for another season in the top flight.
The Millo meanwhile finished fourth in 2010 and are currently fifth with four games to play, but it is a mark of how badly previous seasons have gone that they currently find themselves in the promocion with losing not an option. This week has also been turbulent; goalkeeping coach and club legend Ubaldo Fillol walked out after being 'disrespected' by current No. 1 Juan Pablo Carrizo in the last game.
Prediction
A devilishly tricky game to forecast. This six-pointer could go either way, but River's current indifferent form and home advantage for their opponents, mean that an Olimpo win is the most likely outcome.
Saturday's Action
We have reached that stage of the season when for certain teams, the games start to count more for pride than any grand aspirations or worries. This seems to be the case for Colon and Argentinos Juniors, who meet in Santa Fe to kick off the weekend. Both teams lie safely in mid-table after mediocre seasons, although an outstanding finish for either could see them sneak into the Copa Sudamericana.
San Lorenzo (above) are another team marooned in the middle, and will be looking forward to the arrival of coach Omar Asad to spearhead a more potent challenge in August. In the meantime they host Arsenal, who lie just one point clear of River at the bottom and need a win to ease relegation worries. All Boys welcome a Quilmes team almost condemned to relegation, before Racing Club and Banfield face off in a match La Academia need three points in to consolidate their place in the Copa qualification places.
Sunday's Action
Two accomplished wins have seen Independiente lift themselves out of the promocion dogfight, but the Rojo would like to take three points off Estudiantes in La Plata to ensure their place in Primera and keep climbing the Clausura ladder. The Pincha meanwhile still have not recorded a win since March, after their match with Huracan was suspended due to crowd trouble and will be completed in the next couple of weeks.
Boca Juniors goalkeeper Cristian Lucchetti likened the team to a reality show in the week, but the Xeneixe will hope to leave off-pitch drama aside and defeat bottom side Newell's Old Boys in the Bombonera. League leaders Velez Sarsfield will then hope to put Thursday's Copa Libertadores reverse behind them away to Tigre and keep a three point lead intact at the Clausura summit.
Monday's Action
While Velez look to keep up winning ways on Sunday, two of their closest rivals hope to close the gap with victory in the final matches of the weekend. No team is in better form than Lanus, who have found goals ridiculously easy to come by in the last few weeks. It would take a brave man to bet against them at home to Huracan, who after last week's trouble against Estudiantes are deep in on and off-pitch crisis.
The Globo are battling with Gimnasia to avoid the second direct relegation place, and the Lobo will find it no easier on the road against second-placed Godoy Cruz. The Mendocinos were left outraged by the refereeing during their draw against Banfield, and they will be desperate for three points as they chase the first title in their history.
Full Fixtures and Predictions for Round 16
| Colon | 1 | 1 | Argentinos | Sat 19:00 |
| San Lorenzo | 2 | 1 | Arsenal | 21:10 |
| All Boys | 0 | 1 | Quilmes | 23:20 |
| Racing | 2 | 0 | Banfield | Sun 01:20 |
| Estudiantes | 1 | 1 | Independiente | 19:00 |
| Boca | 3 | 1 | Newell's OB | 21:00 |
| Tigre | 0 | 2 | Velez | 23:10 |
| Olimpo | 1 | 0 | River Plate | Mon 01:20 |
| Lanus | 3 | 0 | Huracan | 21:10 |
| Godoy Cruz | 1 | 1 | Gimnasia LP | Tue 02:10 |
