This week’s Argentine Primera Division fixture list isn’t loaded with marquee matchups, but there is one game that is a serious must see fixture. The other one we’re covering is decent, but not spectacular. We’re just covering it because it’s Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday. Tonight, Banfield hosts Argentinos Juniors, while Boca Juniors host Estudiantes La Plata in the marquee matchup of the week.
Argentine Primera Division, Clausura Round 8: Boca Juniors Vs. Estudiantes La Plata Is Must-See TV
Banfield Vs. Argentinos Juniors
Friday, 8 pm ET
Every club in Argentina is regularly bitten by the All Of Your Good Players Going To Europe Bug, but Banfield probably take the cake in this regard. Their losses of James Rodriguez and Seba Fernandez, among others, have hit hard and they haven’t been able to recover. Still, they’re a pretty decent side and it wouldn’t be shocking to see them stay in the top half of the table all season. Cristian Andres Garcia is now stepping up after Seba’s departure, while their back line is pretty solid. Look for young defender Mauro Dos Santos to be the next Banfield player to get poached by a European side.
While Banfield are usually entertaining, Argentinos Juniors like to make a point of being the Stoke of Argentina. They have five goals on the season, and they have allowed just two. In seven games, they have two wins and five draws. Snooooooore. Hopefully Banfield scores an early goal and makes this game really interesting.
Boca Juniors Vs. Estudiantes La Plata
Sunday, 5 pm ET
Do you like insane crowds? Struggling juggernauts? Expansive 3-4-1-2 formations? Old people battling the forces of nature? Holy crap, do we have a game for you!
Contrary to popular belief, Juan Roman Riquelme and Martin Palermo are not dead. Actually, they both started in Boca’s win last week, and Riquelme even scored a goal. This win stopped a terrible skid by Los Xeneizes, though they still sit all the way down in 17th place in the table. Still, as everyone knows, they’re much better than that and they should provide a serious challenge for Estudiantes, who are top of the table.
Estudiantes might be a bit tired after a long trip to Colombia in mid-week for Copa Libertadores, but they got the draw they needed to secure a spot in the knockout stages of that competition. That, combined with consecutive shutout wins in the league suggests that they’re in great form. Despite the fact that they’ll be on the road, they should be slight favorites against Boca.
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