On the face of it Dua Lipa and Ezequiel Zeballos do not appear to have much in common, one being an international pop megastar and the other a very talented, albeit inconsistent and rather injury-prone young midfielder. But this unlikely duo came together on Sunday to take all the plaudits at La Bombonera, as Boca Juniors powered through to down River Plate 2-0 and win what will forever be known to posterity as the Chango-Lipa Súperclasico (maybe).
As Lipa watched on from the Bombonera’s corporate boxes, ‘el Chango’ dazzled River in a game that could have ended with an even more embarrassing scoreline for Marcelo Gallardo’s strugglers. He opened the scoring in the first half with a fine individual effort and popped up again after the break to supply Miguel Merentiel with an unmissable chance.
We’ll never tire of saying it, things can change in a heartbeat in the dizzying world of Argentine football. Boca looked dead and buried just a couple of months ago, unable to even buy a win; now they’re off to the Copa Libertadores and will be one of the favourites to lift the Clausura. ‘Euroriver’? The team of the most decorated coach currently active in the game and the massive balance sheet? They might not even make the Copa after an eighth loss in their last 11 games. Perhaps the only smart decision Gallardo made this past week was to sign his contract extension prior to kick-off in the Bombonera, otherwise even this River legend may have been feeling the pressure after such a capitulation.
But enough of looking back. This weekend marks the final round of group fixtures in the Clausura and as such defines the fate of every team that still has something to play for, almost the entire Liga Profesional de Fútbol in practice. Calculating the exact consequence of each possible result in terms of playoff qualification, Libertadores and Sudamericana places and relegation is beyond this number-challenged scribe, and possibly anyone not in possession of an advanced mathematics degree. That would also make for a long, extremely dull column, and we can’t have that. But we shall do our best to simplify the current state of play – an idiot’s guide to the last weekend if you will.
Home free: Boca and Rosario Central are in the rarified position of knowing they will be playing both next year’s Libertadores and the playoffs. It will also be a relaxing last day for Platense and Independiente Rivadavia despite their pitiful Clausura showing. As Apertura and Copa Argentina champions respectively, their Libertadores spot is assured, while neither is troubled either by a play-off chance or relegation ahead of their final games.
The no-hopers: A handful of teams just hoping to get this season out of the way. Independiente, Newell’s and Instituto have somehow ended up with nothing to play for at either end of the table. They can still be spoilers, though, particularly Instituto who can and will certainly want to sink rival Talleres’ play-off hopes with a win.
The playoff gaggle: This is where it gets messy. Sixteen total play-off berths are available and eight are already claimed. Nine teams can still mathematically grab one of the last five spots in Group A while the situation is similar in Group B, with six teams battling for the last three places. Grande duo Racing and River just need a draw to go through, others, like Huracán and Defensa y Justicia, must win and hope an unlikely number of other results go their way. And keep an eye on San Martín, who would have to give up the play-off spot they currently occupy should they also get relegated (more on that below).
Raise your Copas: Time for more untidiness. Argentina’s three Libertadores places defined by the annual table look set to go to Central, Boca and Argentinos Juniors (preliminary phase), with the six following teams heading to the Sudamericana – Riestra, River, Racing, San Lorenzo, Tigre and Barracas Central as it stands, with Lanús and Huracán just outside. HOWEVER, should any of those first three win the Clausura, a further Libertadores berth will become available for fourth place. River can still technically overcome the Bicho and qualify outright, but they’d need to beat Vélez on the last day and hope their Copa adversaries lose to Estudiantes.
Mind the drop: The Liga Profesional currently allows for two relegations and unless the AFA suspends them in the next few hours (don’t rule it out completely) we will know the identity of those unfortunates by Saturday night. One team will go down via the annual table, which right now is Godoy Cruz, the other by the three-season rolling average table (the famous promedios), currently the aforementioned San Martín. Keep an eye out for Aldosivi, though, who happen to play San Martín on the last day. Defeat to the Sanjuaninos would relegate the Tiburón outright via the average table while a draw coupled with a Godoy Cruz win would send the two to a play-off to decide who joins San Martín in the Primera Nacional. Oh yes, any tie on points between the three will mean a sudden-death decider. And if either Aldosivi or San Martín finish bottom of both tables, the penultimate team in the annual rankings will go down.
There, that wasn’t too complicated, was it? Just keep this handy guide at your side along with a pen and pad and calculator, and settle in for what will be a thrilling and not-at-all confusing last weekend at both ends of the table(s).
related news
