The Argentine situation, deeply rooted in Buenos Aires, is taken as a model by football. The fulcrum of the teams that play in the Argentine championship is based in the capital. Boca Juniors and River Plate are the country’s most popular teams, but other teams with strong traditions exist in the urban sprawl of Buenos Aires. Vélez Sársifield and Banfield are taking part this year in the Copa Libertadores, the “Champions League” of South America. In the quarter where the tango was born, at Boedo, there is San Lorenzo, a team coached this year by Ramon Diaz, now at the top of the league. In the locality called Avellaneda, the big rivalry is between Independiente and Racing. Not far away is Arsenal of Sarandi. Nueva Chicago, Lanus, Quilmes and Argentinos Juniors are the other teams of the capital taking part in the “Primera”, the Argentine major league. At La Plata, just a few kilometres from Baires, are Estudiantes and Gimnasia. Estudiantes, managed by “Cholo" Diego Simeone won the play-off, beating Boca in the last Apertura championship. The Argentine season elects two winners. The start-of-season championship, the Apertura, starts in September and ends in January; in February, the Clausura starts, which takes the teams to the South-American winter. A lot of rivalry also exists outside Buenos Aires. The strongest is between Rosario Central and Newell’s Old Boys, a historical “clásico” – as local derbys are called here – of Argentinian “futbol”. In Santa Fé, the capital of the province of the same name which also comprises Rosario, there is Colón. The other three teams in the “Primera extra porteño” (the word “porteño” indicates belonging to Buenos Aires) are Belgrano of Cordoba, Godoy Cruz (province of Mendoza) and Gimnasia of Jujuy, a town bordering on Bolivia.

The day of the Super Clasico. Sunday, at the Bombonera, is the day of the Boca – River match.
The rivalry that divides the country does not even leave the supporters of the other teams indifferent and has a history that goes far back in time.
Xeneizes and Millionarios. Each Argentinian team has a nickname. Boca Juniors, the team of the quarter of the same name, founded by the Genoese, chose blue and yellow, or rather azul and oro as its colours because the club founders, who were not sure about the choice, decided to adopt the colours of the flag of the first ship that entered the port from that moment on. It was a Swedish ship.
The origin of River’s nickname is semantically simple but historically uncertain. While it is true that the millionaires are the rich ones in town, it would seem that the name, rather than deriving from the quarter of origin (Nuñez) is tied to a number of costly purchases made in the Twenties.
These two nicknames are however “institutional” ones. Generally speaking, when the two groups of supporters mock one another, they use other ones. The Boca fans are known as bosteros (“stinkers”) because behind the Bombonera runs the Riachuelo, a small rather smelly river. The River supporter are known as called “hens”. This nickname was historically coined during an unlucky period for the Nuñez club, between the two decades 1950-1970. In 1966, River reached the Copa Libertadores final and took the lead 2-0. The fans started singing, but in the end they lost the match and the trophy. During the first championship match after the continental trophy defeat, on the Banfield pitch, the supporters of the rival team threw a hen onto the field, with a red band, which a player quickly kicked into the grandstands.
Sunday evening, Miguel Angel Russo’s Boca, back at the top of the league, competes against Daniel Passarella’s River, still lacking in terms of results and already knocked out of the Copa Libertadores.
The forecast is still uncertain however, in what is the country’s most enthralling Super Clasico – the only sure thing is the excitement.

RB.com

It was easy to forecast that excitement would not go lacking in the Super Clasico. In the end one goal each and some general disappointment about the many scoring chances wasted in the first half by Boca and in the second by River. To return “puntero” (meaning at the top of the league) at the San Lorenzo, a goal from Fernandez, former River, is all that is needed against Gimnasia La Plata, with Colombian coach “Pancho” Maturana making his debut on the bench. Estudiantes failed to take advantage of its home game and was forced to a draw by Lanus. Argentinos Juniors was also stopped at Jujuy. A great win by Newell’s at Cordoba against Belgrano and another convincing game by the Paraguayan centre forward Oscar Cardozo. The home defeat of Independiente by Godoy Cruz marked the definite departure of coach Jorge Burruchaga who resigned at the end of the match. Spectacular wins by Velez at Banfield and Rosario Central at home against Nueva Chicago. A draw that satisfied no one between Colon and Racing.

Table: San Lorenzo 25, Boca 23, Estudiantes 19, Argentinos Jrs 17, River 17 (one match less), Godoy 16, Newell’s 16.

A goalless draw, but full of good opportunities and excitement the friendly match played between Argentina and Chile at Mendoza. Lots of players making their debut in Albiceleste (White Blue: the name of the Argentine squad), which included only players competing in the local championship, with Juan Sebastian Veron missing due to injury. A match full of good attempts, from the one side and the other, even though in the second half, before the inevitable round of substitutions, it was the team coached by Alfio Basile that came closest to scoring on several occasions. The Argentine press was however rather critical about the team’s performance. The most dangerous Chilean forwards were Humberto Suazo and Alexis Sanchez, el Niño Maravilla (already bought by Udinese and now on loan to Colo Colo).

Argentina: Carrizo (River), Ibarra (Boca) Diaz (Boca), Tuzzio (River) Bottinelli (San Lorenzo); Belluschi (River), C. Ledesma (San Lorenzo), Sosa (Estudiantes); Montenegro (Independiente); Palacio (Boca), Pavone (Estudiantes). DT: Alfio Basile.
Second half: Lavezzi (San Lorenzo) forPalacio, Neri Cardozo (Boca) for Montenegro, P. Ledesma (Boca) for Sosa, Ponzio (River) for Belluschi.

Cile: Pinto (Universidad de Chile); Rieloff (Audax Italiano), Roco (Santiago Wanderers), Riffo (Colo Colo), Vidal (Colo Colo); Fierro (Colo Colo), Sanhueza (Colo Colo), Iturra (U. de Chile); Valdivia (Palmeiras – BRA); Suazo (Colo Colo), Sanchez (Colo Colo). DT: Nelson Acosta
Second half: Medel (Universidad Catolica) for Iturra, Moya (Audax Italiano) for Sanchez.

The struggle at the top of the Argentine league championship continues. In front is lead team San Lorenzo, two goals scored by Andres Silvera that knocked out Godoy Cruz, but failed to shake off Boca Juniors, pirate at Rosario with Newell’s (2-1, goals scored by Palermo (penalty) and Palacio). In the La Plata classic, Diego Simeone’s Estudiantes got the upper hand thanks to a great performance by Mariano Pavone (two goals). A hard-fought victory for River Plate as well, at home to Banfield, and a little relief for Nuñez. Crazy game between Racing and Belgrano: Avellaneda’s team went into the lead, was caught and overtaken (among the goals of the Cordoba team also those of former-Brescia player Yllana) until, in the end, the game was a 3-3 draw. Vélez with its head at Libertadores lost at home to Rosario Central, while Arsenal only just beat Gimnasia di Jujuy. Draws between Argentinos Juniors and Cólon and between Nueva Chicago and Independiente.

An exciting match is due to be staged at the Bombonera on last Sunday. One of the Argentine clasicos, Boca – Racing. The bosteros are in search of the top-of-the-league position while Avellaneda’s team, is at the bottom of the league and has just fired the coach Reinaldo Merlo, the last coach to take the white and blue team to the title in 2001, after winning nothing for thirty-five years. And yet Racing is one of Argentina’s great teams; after River, Boca and the hated rivals Independente, it is the team with the most supporters in the Country, and its nickname is Academia, because at the beginning of last century, it won title after title and played really superbly.
Boca and Racing also “contend” the support of the famous former president Juan Domingo Peron. Apparently, Evita’s husband always declared himself to be an Academia supporter, and the Racing stadium, also known as the "Cilindro" (“Cylinder”) is dedicated to him; more recent information maintains he was closer to Boca, although it is correct to say that Peron was never a great lover of sport. Carlos Gardel, the country’s most famous tango performer on the other hand was very definitely an Academia fan.

San Lorenzo continues to outpace them all. While Boca was stopped at home by Racing, the azulgrana went on to beat Nueva Chicago. Both matches were full of pathos: at the Bombonera, Boca was one goal behind, missed a penalty and only just managed to make a comeback in the second half, with a one-two in just five minutes (goal scored by Riquelme and penalty by Palermo). And then, to cap it all, at the ninetieth minute, a penalty scored by Sava evened things out, and during extra time, the Avellaneda squad came close to plundering the Bombonera. San Lorenzo started off strongly with the usual Lavezzi, went into a 3-0 lead and then experienced a nightmarish second half with two goals scored by the visitors and plenty of near misses. Estudiantes played up to their usual sound standards, beating Godoy Cruz by just one goal. River also did well at Rosario against Central: two goals scored by former player Ruben (who did not celebrate). The three goals scored by Cvitanich, the Banfield attacker, humiliated Newell’s. Good away wins by Lanus at La Plata against Gimnasia and by Argentinos Jrs. at Cordoba against Belgrano. Well balanced matches between Independiente and Velez, with Montenegro deciding the day, and between Gimnasia Jujuy and Quilmes (a goal by Ricardo Gomez at the 90th minute). A draw at Santa Fe between Colon and Arsenal.

Table: San Lorenzo 31, Boca Jrs 27, Estudiantes 25, River 23, Argentinos 21.

The Rosario clasico will be played on Sunday. Together with Boca-River, perhaps Argentina’s most closely followed match. This year, Rosario Central – Newell’s Old Boys does not involve the top of the league and for this very reason anticipation is even stronger: an entire season is at stake. The nicknames of the two teams originate from an event that goes back into the mists of time and is extremely interesting in a way. Newell’s organised a friendly match and the proceeds were to have been donated to an institute for lepers. Central initially accepted the invitation, without however showing up. Each of the sides considered themselves to be in the right and squabbling followed. From that day on however, the local Rosario derby is between the “Leprosos” (lepers – Newell’s) and the “Canallas” (the scoundrels – Central). A spectator, on TV only unfortunately, but very keen, will be Lionel Messi, a big supporter of Newell’s Old Boys, or as he said once “leproso hasta la muerte”, a leper until death.

The Argentine championship is always full of excitement. San Lorenzo, the championship leader, was beaten by Velez Sarsfield 2-1 but only Simeone’s Estudiantes took advantage of this false step by beating Nueva Chicago 2-1 away from home. Incredible game between Boca and Argentinos Jrs in the stadium dedicated to Diego Armando Maradona: down by two goals, the “bosteros” managed to make a comeback until they took control of the game which however ended with a very exciting draw: 3-3. The Rosario clasico went to Newell’s thanks to the squad’s Paraguayan “colony”: the attacker Oscar Cardozo scored the winning goal and the goalkeeper Justo Villar saved the penalty kicked by the former Inter and Valencia player Kily Gonzalez. River only managed a home draw against Independiente, other 1-1 draws between Racing and Banfield and between Lanus and Gimnasia Jujuy. Another exciting and spectacular match was that between Arsenal and Belgrano, which ended 4-3. Important wins for Godoy Cruz over Gimnasia La Plata and Quilmes over Colon of Santa Fé.

Classifica

A day of contrition. The teams at the top of the Argentine championship were all biting their nails at the end of the ninetieth minute. The lead squad San Lorenzo, at home to River, outnumbered the latter from the fourth minute of the first half due to Galvan having been sent off and failed to manage more than a 0-0 draw. Estudiantes failed to maintain the lead over Velez and ended up drawing 1-1, the same score with which Arsenal stopped Boca. Argentinos Jrs., meanwhile, set aside all ambitions by losing to Banfield. At the bottom of the ratings, yet another defeat for Quilmes at Cordoba against Belgrano (3-0) and for Racing at Rosario against Central (1-0 with goal scored by the increasingly more interesting Di Maria). Gimnasia La Plata failed to exploit its home game and was stopped by Nueva Chicago. Quite the opposite for Colon which beat Gimnasia Jujuy 3-1. The big match between Newell’s and Independiente was a draw: the latter’s next match will be the local derby with the other Avellaneda team, Racing.

Table: San Lorenzo 32 points, Boca e Estudiantes 29, River 26, Arsenal 25, Argentinos Jrs. 22

For the shirt only. Domenica Racing and Independiente, the two Avellaneda teams, municipality of Great Buenos Aires, are playing for prestige only, considering both have forsaken any chance of winning the championship. On the contrary, Racing, which had promised to refund its season ticket holders in case of failure to make the first places in the league, must look over its shoulder in the ratings, beside starting to put its hands in its pockets. Not that there is a lot in them, especially compared to its rival Independiente, the only Argentine club, together with Boca and River, to have always played in the premier league. Just for the sake of offering a picture of the situation, Rojo (Red), the nickname of Independiente, during the last summer market sold its gem player, Sergio Agüero, for over twenty million euro, while Racing made just two from the winter transfer of Leandro Grimi to Milan, and that was the best deal clinched in the last few years! The stadiums of Rojo and Academia (Racing’s nickname) are only a few hundred metres from one another, even though in recent months Independiente has been engaged in renovating its “La Doble Visiera” facility, to be renamed “Libertadores de America”.

Sufferance was generally widespread. Boca and Estudiantes found it hard to keep up with the championship leader San Lorenzo. Ramon Diaz’s men managed to get top side of Newell’s, at Rosario, after a very hard-fought game and thanks to a goal scored just six minutes from the final whistle by Méndez. Cholo Simeone’s Estudiantes had to wait until the 92nd minute to overcome River Plate, forced to abandon its dreams of glory following a last-minute goal by Maggiolo. Thanks to the goals of Datolo and Palacio, Boca beat Quilmes, after several times risking having to make do with a draw. The Avellaneda classic proved to be a nervous match, with Racing and Independiente taking one point each. Four very nervous matches ended up goalless draws: Velez-Gimnasia La Plata, Argentinos Jrs- Rosario Central, Gimnasia Jujuy-Belgrano and Nueva Chicago-Godoy Cruz. A more sparkling draw between Arsenal (two goals from Llama) and Banfield. A none too easy victory, despite the score, 3-0, for Lanus over Colon.

Tabla: SAN LORENZO 35 punti, BOCA JRS. 32, ESTUDIANTES 32, RIVER 26, ARSENAL 26, ARGENTINOS JRS. 23

Yet another win for the Argentine Clausura championship leader, San Lorenzo, over the increasingly more disappointing Racing: a clear 3-0 victory. False step on the part of Simeone’s Estudiantes: an exciting 4-4 at La Plata against Newell’s, but only one point in the championship and with the leadership moving out of reach. Boca continues to be a steamroller, winning 3-1 against Gimnasia Jujuy, in the wake of San Lorenzo, ready to play all its chances in the Libertadores, where on Wednesday, in the semifinal, it will be competing against the surprising Colombian team Cúcuta. This last match day was full of astounding away wins - River beat Gimnasia La Plata 3-0 (two goals scored by former Palermo player Ernesto Farías), Velez got top side of Godoy Cruz thanks to goals scored by its gem players Mauro Zarate and Damian Escudero, Arsenal beat Central 2-0 at Rosario. Away wins for tail-ender Quilmes, which beat Banfield and for Cólon which came back winner from Cordoba (3-1 against Belgrano). Nueva Chicago beat a surprising Lanus. The big match between Independiente and Argentinos Jrs. was a goalless draw.

TABLE: SAN LORENZO 38 points, BOCA JRS 35, ESTUDIANTES 33, ARSENAL e RIVER 29, LANUS 25.

Only three days to go to the end of the Clausura championship in Argentina. As we have seen, San Lorenzo has a three point lead over Boca Juniors and five over Estudiantes. On Friday, San Lorenzo will be visiting Argentinos Juniors in what remains the most complicated match from here to the end of the tournament. Argentinos Juniors, known in Argentina as el “Bicho”, is bringing to a close a good season. A Buenos Aires squad, from the Paternal quarter, AJ historically has one of the best breeding grounds in the State. Out of this club’s youngsters came Diego Armando Maradona (and in fact, the Bicho stadium is now dedicated to the great number 10) who later went on to Boca, then Barça and Naples. Another player from the Argentinos Juniors school, though he never played in the first team like Diego, is Juan Roman Riquelme, now at Boca. The list of Paternal youngsters is long and prestigious (a brief selection in the video): there is also Esteban Cambiasso who, as we see in the video we have offered you, recalls the birth of his career in the white and red club.

Probably a decisive day for the Argentine championship. On Friday, San Lorenzo drew with Argentinos Juniors which just goes to show what a difficult match it was – as we had said. A great chance for the teams behind to catch up with the leader....but nothing came of it: both Boca and Estudiantes lost and now the title seems within reach of Ramon Diaz’s squad which only needs to win on Sunday to take the title.
Boca was beaten in the Colon final in the incredible stadium known as the “Elephants’ Cemetery” at Santa Fé: the decisive goal, making the score 2-1, came at three minutes from the end and was scored by Ramirez. Estudiantes had probably already abandoned the dispute on the last match day when Simeone’s team lost badly to Racing. Lots of away wins this time – 4 games ended 0-1. Rosario Central beat Quilmes, now practically relegated, Independente beat Arsenal, Banfield beat Gimnasia Jujuy, and, finally, Gimnasia La Plata beat Newell’s at Rosario (this is the first win with Pancho Maturana on the bench of the “Lobo”). Draw with goals between Lanus and Belgrano while Velez Sarsfield beat Nueva Chicago 2-1.

Tabla: SAN LORENZO 39 puntos, BOCA JRS 35, ESTUDIANTES 33, RIVER y ARSENAL 29.

San Lorenzo has taken the Clausura championship. The false steps of rivals Boca and Estudiantes in the last matches enabled the Boedo club to already celebrate after the next to the last match in its home stadium, the “Nuevo Gasometro”, obviously packed out. It was necessary to beat Arsenal to take the title: Lavezzi and Fernendez did the job of taking Ramon Diaz’s men to victory. In the lead by 2-0, San Lorenzo conceded two goals before closing the match 4-2 in the second half. Ramon Diaz, the former Avellino, Napoli, Fiorentina and Inter centre forward was carried triumphantly: his merits are plain to see. Boca came second (1-0 against Belgrano) and is ready for the Libertadores final, to be played against the Brazilian side, Gremio. Estudiantes also had a good season, winning the Apertura championship: 2-0 against Argentinos Juniors and final third place. River drew away from home against Nueva Chicago thanks to a penalty in extra time and earned itself a place in the next Libertadores. Draws for Vélez and Lanus too and between Godoy Cruz and Newell’s. The Independiente of the new coach Troglio beat the already relegated Quilmes 4-1. Wins for Rosario Central against Gimnasia Jujuy, Racing at La Plata against Gimnasia and Colon against Banfield.

With the title already in the bag, the last day of the Argentine Clausura trophy pronounced the last verdicts. One of these was very painful for the city of Cordoba; a victory against Banfield was not enough to keep Belgrano in the premier league. Also relegated was Quilmes, which on the last day battled on well against champion team San Lorenzo until the 85’, when Andres Silvera scored the winning goal. The play-off to stay in the Primera Division will be between Nueva Chicago and Godoy Cruz, to meet Tigre and Huracán respectively. Straight into the Argentine premier league on the other hand go Olimpo of Bahia Blanca and San Martín of San Juan. Sure of playing in the next Libertadores: San Lorenzo, Boca, Estudiantes, River, Arsenal (preliminaries), while if Boca were to win the final being played against Gremio, this would mean another place for Argentina, to the benefit of Lanús, which would go through to the preliminary matches.

Argentina - Chile 2-0 (Riquelme2)

Venezuela - Argentina 2-0 (Gabriel Milito, Messi)

Classifica: LANUS 27 punti, TIGRE e INDEPENDIENTE 25, BOCA 24, ARGENTINOS 23, RIVER PLATE e BANFIELD 22, SAN LORENZO 21.

Table: LANUS 30 points, BOCA JRS 27, INDEPENDIENTE 26, TIGRE 25, BANFIELD 25,
RIVER 23.

Racing - Boca 0-3

Independiente - River 1-1

Table: LANUS 33 points, BOCA 30, TIGRE 28, INDEPENDIENTE 26, ARGENTINOS 26, BANFIELD 26, RIVER PLATE 23, ESTUDIANTES 23.

BOCA - VELEZ 4-0

Argentina - Bolivia 3-0

Colombia - Argentina 2-1

Arsenal Sarandi - Boca Juniors 2-1

Table: LANUS 34 points, TIGRE 31, BOCA JRS 30, INDEPENDIENTE e ARGENTINOS JRS 27

TIGRE - BOCA 2-1

Table: Lanus 37 points, Tigre 34, Boca 30.

Last matches on sunday, 2th december:
Boca Jrs - Lanus
Argentinos Jrs - Tigre

Lanus is the new Argentina Champion

Boca - Lanus 1-1

Table: LANUS 38 points, TIGRE 34, BOCA 31