Argentine Primera Division: Banfield Face Off Against Argentinos Juniors

Argentinos Juniors have scored a second goal on Banfield, and their fans are exiting the stadium. Likely, they’re feeling a weird combination of surprise and disappointment. They went into this game as favorites, but they have been outplayed for the majority of the game, save for a couple of short spells. Substitute Mauro Bogado is the man who scored for Argentinos, and his goal came off of a combination of great team play and a comedy of defensive errors.

The real meat of the move started with Nicolas Berardo, who made a run to the byline on the left flank. He barely beat his man to get the ball in, but his cross was solid and it found the head of Santiago Salcedo. Salcedo was not well marked by his man and got to the ball, flicking it behind himself instead of towards the goal. Both the goalkeeper and the rest of Banfield’s defense were out to lunch as the ball fell to an unmarked Berardo, who had the entire goal at his mercy. He finished easily, and after 79 minutes, Argentinos have a commanding lead.

Argentinos Juniors have played all season in a fairly rigid 4-4-2 setup that was more focused on defense than attack. They have impressively only allowed two goals this season through seven games, but they have also only scored five, which explains why they have drawn five times. They’re also undefeated, and they appear to be in good shape to continue that trend, thanks to their 1-0 road lead over Banfield at halftime. Franco Niell scored a nice goal off of a low cross and a deflection on the 31st minute, and much to the surprise of everyone, it was well deserved and with the run of play.

Argentinos have abandoned their old setup, and their tactics are probably best and most specifically described as a 4-2-1-3. Or, at least, that’s as specifically as they can be described in simple formation notation. Their lineup was called a 4-2-3-1 on television, but the wide players really are forwards, which has made for some really entertaining football. The front three have seriously pressured the Banfield back line, and young Matias Laba is having a very solid game.

Surprisingly, Argentinos Juniors have not been their normal selves against Banfield. Despite playing on the road against a good team, they’ve come of of their defensive shell a bit and actually played some attacking football. They don’t look conservative in any way, whether it be with rigidity or putting men behind the ball. Their ambition has likely surprised Banfield, and after 31 minutes, it has paid off with a goal by Franco Niell.

The goal came thanks to a low cross, then a deflection out to Niell who buried his shot. Drifting out to the left hand side, Santiago Salcedo made a great run down the left, finding space to put in a low cross, his cross was deflected back out towards the edge of the box, where it met Niell who buried it. Surprisingly, this goal did not come against the run of play, but was much deserved for an Argentinos Juniors side who have apparently learned to attack.

In surprising fashion, if it’s true, it looks like Argentinos Juniors could be going away from their regular 4-4-2 formation. don’t get your hopes up, though. Their lineup was shown on television as a 4-2-3-1, but for a team that has played a rigid 4-4-2 all season, this seems highly unlikely. Starting fullback Sergio Escudero is out due to suspension, so that has forced one change, with Miguel Angel Torren taking his place at left back. Banfield will be lining up in a 4-4-2 as well, but they should be doing more attacking in addition to being much more fluid. They’re at home and they’re the more fluid side anyway, so expect them to have plenty of the ball.

Banfield lineup (Projected 4-4-2): Bologna; Bustamonte, Barraza, Lopez, Dos Santos; Bustos, Carrusca, De Souza, Gomez; Achucarro, Garcia