Another living legend has walked away from the heights of World Football to try and convert an alien nation (the MLS) to the idiom of the football masterclass, as Guillermo Barros Schelotto waved goodbye to the masses of La Bombonera before Boca’s Sunday match up against a (surprisingly) lowly side, Racing Club.

The ever ready Boca fans were in great form and high in the clouds as they said their farewells to a player that will be forever remembered as a Boca great, but were soon shocked back into reality as Racing scored 1st despite the usual Boca dominance.

The blond assassin, Martin Palermo (sporting his version of the young padawan hair style) got a chance to pull level at the death of the 1st half, but saw his spot kick denied. It wasn’t long however before Riquelme scored off a sweet one-two to find their leveller early in the 2nd half.

Minutes later Palermo got a 2nd chance from the penalty spot; this time making certain of the goal and the lead, and while everything looked good for Boca to secure all 3 pts. and keep pace with San Lorenzo, Racing Club spoiled the party by forcing and slotting a penalty of their own at the death to take a share of the points.

Schelotto will now be indoctrinated into the Colombus school of bad knocks with the Crew hoping that his lethal touches will turn to goals for the MLS Eastern underachievers. The wiry and fiery Argentine striker will definitely find the back of the net in America based purely on his personal grit and determination, but I’m hoping that he can bring that rhythm and understanding of play to the American outfit.

Boca will face a trying game on the road against Argentinos Juniors (currently 5th) in the late game on Sunday, hoping that Velez Sarsfield and ex-coach, La Volpe, will have helped their cause by defeating top side San Lorenzo on Saturday.

Other top weekend Argentinian matches will see Nueva Chicago hosting reigning champs, Estudiantes in the early Friday match while River Plate play at home against Independiente on Sunday.

This weekend plays host to the Grand Clasico of Argentine Football—Boca vs. River Plate. Boca needs a victory to push back to the top (San Lorenzo was victorious on Saturday) and will be looking to continue their winning ways.

River Plate needs a victory to just keep pace with the leaders and are in danger of staying stagnate in the table if they lose. With two defeats in the first nine games, River need to put one to their old foes, in La Bombonera of all places, to stop the slide.

Boca seem much stronger and steady this time around without La Volpe at the helm while River, having already been bounced from the Copa Libertadores, have to reassert themselves if they look to get anything out of this Clausura tournament.

The fireworks are in the making! Who will provide the spark?

San Lorenzo dropped their 1st 3 pts. this past Saturday to Estudiantes, paving the way for Boca to surpass the early leaders. Boca faced their old coach, La Volpe, and Velez Sarsfield, knowing they could take 3 pts. from the manager, who steered them last term trophy-less.

It didn’t take long either as midfielder Cardozo struck in quick fashion in the 3rd min. to the chagrin of La Volpe, as Boca looked hungry, on the road, to restore amends for last tournament’s failure. Boca stretched their lead and dominance in the 27th min. through their rat-tailed striker Palacio.

San Lorenzo finally pulled one back in the 2nd half through their defender Pellegrino in the 79th min., but the padawan (Palacio) showed up again, just one minute later, to restore Boca’s two goal lead and remind La Volpe of the old wound.

With one ghost slayed, Boca will now face (this coming Sunday) their old rivals and the Argentine Classic against River Plate, who are wavering a few spots and 6 pts. off the mark.

With the elimination of River Plate (even the poor form of Boca in the same tournament) in the Copa Libertadores and the subdued start of Argentine domestic football season, this weekend’s 9th Round of Argentine football is a godsend, as it plays host to the 1st truly important match-up of La Primera as San Lorenzo, this season’s early leaders, travel to face last tournament champions, Estudiantes.

San Lorenzo sits undefeated at the top of the 2007 Clausura Table with 22 pts., while Estudiantes sits in 3rd on 15 pts., 4 behind 2nd Place Boca Juniors. With the apparent gaps between points emerging, this is the weekend where teams will try to stop the rot.

Look for Estudiantes to pull back San Lorenzo and give Boca, who face the ever mediocre Velez Sarsfield, the chance to catch the would-be leaders.

River Plate sits currently in 5th spot (though level on pts. with Estudiantes) and their home match against Belgrano this weekend will be instrumental in proving River’s character this season, after their shocking elimination from the early group stage of the Copa Libertadores tournament.   

Rounding out the top 5, Argentina Juniors, finding themselves uncharacteristically in 4th spot, will look to keep the dream alive this weekend as they face the bottom scrubbers, Quilmes, at home.

Argentine futbol looks set to explode this weekend as the Argentine Clausura Championship begins. For American viewers, Fox Sports World will set the league in motion with their airing of River Plate’s travels to Lanus. And be sure to catch their mid-week translated re-view of the goal action from the weekend. 

Estudiantes return as glorious Champions, having come from behind to snatch the gold from Boca in their finals match playoff, and the season doesn’t look so 2-club dominate anymore. Diego Simeone, backed by the play of Veron, has kept the solid core of the squad and truly envisions a chance at a double.

Whilst the top two clubs are out marketing their real diamonds, more-and-more clubs will feel that they too can compete with the Rivers and Boca Jrns. of the world. Though both teams have sold players to Real Madrid in the off-season, it looks like River’s need to fill the void, left by the departure of young French/Argentine striker Higuain, will be more worrisome. 

Thankfully for Boca, Riquelme, as a switch out for Boca’s starlet mid-fielder Gago, will be joining back with Palermo and Co. and will be bringing with him the prodigal form that he seems to have lost in Spain for Villarreal—the x-factor to once again dominate La Liga de Argentina. It just might come down to Boca and Estudiantes once again.

Estudiantes did the ultimate on Wednesday when they dethroned repeat holders, Boca Juniors (2-1) to take themselves to the heights of Argentina’s 2006 Apertura. With a chance to take the Gold away from La Volpe and Boca Juniors, Diego Simeoni and Veron and Co. made sure that the La Plata steel would see them through (winning off or drawing many of their last games in dramatic fashion). 

Maradona’s boys failed to pull even a point in the last two games, losing to Belgrano and Lanus in the dying days of Argentine football. Questions and frustrations of what should have been will plague La Volpe and the Buenas Aires club in the interm, before the Clausura tournament begins after the short break in Argentina.

Boca actually went ahead first in the playoff in the 5th min. behind striker, Martin Palermo’s strike, but in the 2nd half, Estudiantes stormed back and leveled the score with a direct free kick that curled over the wall and into the right corner, beating the Boca keeper.

Estudiantes striker, Pabone then performed man-of-the-match heroics as it was his superb hussle play, nipping in to pull a jack-knife sombrero (in between a boca defender and the keeper) over the keeper and heading home with a head-but finish, that claimed the throne. 

The celebrations that then ensued were incredulous as the young Estudiantes players ran ecstatically about in there skimmies while Veron and Simeoni waxed philosophical around the grounds to the faithfulls who rained down tears.

While all top three teams won this past Sunday in Futbol Argentino, River Plate’s (5-0) domination of San Lorenzo at home in the Monumental was a goal shower. In a heavy down pour that made for very quick and slick conditions, it was River Plate that adjusted the quickest to the conditions and stunned San Lorenzo with two goals in the opening 10 min. 

Victor Zapata opened the scoring in the 6th min., rising at the far post to head home a cross from the right. River followed 2 min. later with their second goal from Ernesto Farias in the 8th min. Gallardo forced an interception from a San Lorenzo defensive throw-in; Zapata then kept the fight alive by heading on to Farias, who struck his first goal of the tournament with a shot across the keeper to the far post with his left foot.

San Lorenzo’s coach, Oscar Ruggeri, fearing the worst—a flood of goals—appeared immediately from the dugout shouting and demanding a better response from his players.

After some pressure and composure from San Lorenzo, River Plate carved out another excellent chance with Gallardo chest trapping into space and then cutting past a few defenders, but his well struck drive was denied in the 30th min. by the San Lorenzo keeper.

San Lorenzo felt they should have had a penalty in the 32nd min., but the referee waved it off for what he must have deemed simulation. One minute later San Lorenzo was awarded a penalty, however, as the River keeper was adjudged harshly to have taken out the striker though he had already saved the ball. San Lorenzo keeper then stepped up to the spot kick, but the River keeper was able to make the all important save.

The 2nd half provided much of the same as River Plate continued their fast-pace attacking tempo. Zapata scored his second goal in the 62nd min. River striker Higuain dispossessed a San Lorenzo defender and played a lead ball into Belluschi, who with sliding brilliance was able to release Zapata, who chipped classically out of the reach of the onrushing keeper.

Ariel Ortega was introduced to the game and provided instant impact as his cross set up a River teammate perfectly though the player could only scuff his shot on goal. “Burrito” then set the stadium alive as he took a chipped pass out of the air 1st time (beating the defender) and then finished off his dribble with a masterful chip that beat out the keeper and snuggled into the back side netting.

Fellow substitute Mendez helped finish the deluge as his inch perfect cross found Ernesto Farias, who also scored his 2nd of the game, for a close range snap header.

With Boca Juniors picking up another 3 pts. in the mid-week, Saturday’s pivotal match between Estudiantes and River Plate becomes even more important in keeping pace with Boca. River will be on the road, but they hope to bring their goal shower with them.

Carvings from the Dagger

Playing without injured striker Martin Palermo and not playing in the dominate fashion that they had enjoyed under Alfio Basile, Boca still have found a way to keep apace of the trailing pack. Going into Round 14 of Futbol Argentino, Boca has regained the top spot on 29 pts. with still a game in hand on River Plate and Estudiantes, who both sit just one point beneath Boca level on 28 pts.

The jury, however, is still out on Boca manager, La Volpe as Boca have stammered in the transition period between coaches, but they seem to have turned the corner and regained some of their confidence. Their convincing performance against Argentinos Juniors gave the faithful at La Bombonera some ease of mind as well as some breathing room for La Volpe, who is finding that the pressure of managing the Mexican National team is nothing in comparison to managing the fabled Buenos Aires club.

In the 1st half, Boca’s Juan Krupoviesa was denied a goal as Argentinos’ keeper did well to deny the defender’s well placed free-kick; however, Krupoviesa was not to be denied in the 41st min. as he crashed in with a header at the back post to take Boca into half-time with a goal cushion.

Boca continued to apply the pressure in the 2nd half and fellow defender, Daniel Diaz, was unlucky not to add to the score-line for Boca as his rasping right-footed free-kick was denied by the post.

Boca were rewarded in the 74th min., however, as striker Palencio turned provider, playing a neat ball across the goal for the on rushing Mauro Boselli to push home into the empty net. Argentinos Juniors fought back with a goal in the 86th min. to cut the lead in half at the end.    
    
Though Boca defeated Argentinos Juniors at the weekend and tied Racing Club in their make-up fixture on Wednesday, it was the inability of River Plate to not pull out a victory this past Sunday that placed Boca back in the driver’s seat. River Plate faced a tougher opponent in Independiente, but the story was not that exciting as they played out to a scoreless draw.

Estudiantes kept apace of the two usual suspects as they defeated Nueva Chicago. Striker Mariano Pavone put Estudiantes in the lead in the 18th min. with a pile driver of a left foot that he blasted upper 90 from just outside the 18. Nueva Chicago then provided a gift in the form of the own goal before Higuain the elder finished off a goal to cut the lead. Pavone then missed a spot kick at the end of the game, but Diego Simeone’s men walked away with all 3 pts.

This Sunday the pressure cooker is on as the race is so tight between the three. Boca face Arsenal in a tough match as Arsenal has played themselves into contention this season, sitting in 4th place on 25 pts. Estudiantes and River don’t have it any easier though as Veron and Co. play Velez Sarsfield while Gallardo and Co. play San Lorenzo.

Estudiantes totally demolished their local rivals Gimnasia (7-0) in the La Plata derby this past Sunday to stay within earshot of Boca Juniors and River Plate (both clubs also secured victories at the weekend) in the Apertura 2006. It was the biggest margin of victory in the long history of these two clubs.

The classy veteran Juan Sebastian Veron, who returned to the club where it all started for him, was instrumental to the scoring and undoubtedly put in his best performance since returning and playing under ex-teammate and National team player, Diego Simeone.

Many of the goals were down to his supply of polished and inch-perfect passing. He gave his fellow teammates the opportunities, and they didn’t disappoint. It was his vision that put them through on goal, though it was their finishing touches that wrote them into derby history lore. Jose Calderon hit Gimnasia for a hat-trick of goals while fellow striker, Diego Galvan added a brace. Pavone and Luguerico both added tallies to the rout.

Trailing 3-0 at half-time, Gimnasia did little to help their cause as they had two players sent of in the 2nd half. Their fans also came under scrutiny as a section clashed violently with police. The ill will did not disrupt the game, however, as Estudiantes when on to celebrate in true fashion.

Estudiantes now face lowly side Godoy and will look to bag another three points to sustain the pressure at the top of the table. River Plate looks also to be poised for victory as they host mid-table club, Rosario Central.

Boca have the toughest test this upcoming weekend as they travel to face Racing Club who are also still in the hunt in 4th spot just outside the top three. If Racing can pull the upset then surely the pressure on new manager, La Volpe will begin to boil.

Even without red-and-white stalwarts Marcelo Gallardo and Arial Ortega, River Plate humbled Boca (3-1) in Argentine’s 171st Super Classico, to pull themselves within just 1 pt. of leaders, Boca Juniors.

River took the lead in a super-charged match with an incredible back-heel from striker Gonzalo Higuain in the 30th min. Boca responded immediately with a strike by red-hot Rodrigo Palacio in the 32nd min., to pull the scores level before half-time.

Higuain scored another great goal in the 2nd half, rounding the keeper and finishing in the 54th min. Farias Ernesto put the game out of reach in the 69th min., finishing off a one-on-one, set up nicely by the through pass of mid-fielder, Bellushci.

Boca has gotten off to an indifferent start under new manager, La Volpe. While Boca is still on top with a game in hand, River has just made the race more interesting in Argentina.