Argentine Primera Division, 2011 Apertura, Week 1: Velez And Godoy Cruz Draw, Boca Juniors Play Sunday

It looks like life might be hard on Velez Sarsfield without Maxi Moralez and Ricky Alvarez, who have both departed for the greener pastures of Serie A, but thanks to a silly red card, a great fight back, and a fantastic golazo, they’ve earned a solid 1-1 draw to start the season, getting one point from a solid Godoy Cruz team.

Rubén Ramírez scored the opening goal by Godoy Cruz, but his finish was the easy part. The hard part was the setup, which was provided brilliantly by Diego Villar. Taking the ball down the right, he beat a defender before putting a great ball across the box. Ramirez was in great position and tapped it home, giving his team the lead.

While Major League Soccer’s system almost imposes parity and the Mexican Primera Division is widely regarded as the most unpredictable league in the world, the Argentine Primera Division is actually the division in the Americas most susceptible to rapid changes.

Take a look at the fixtures and you won’t see River Plate, who were unfathomably relegated. Take a look at the roster of defending champions Velez Sarsfield and you won’t see Maxi Moralez, the 5’3” playmaker who has since taken his talents to Italy. Take a look at the roster of the most storied club actually playing top flight football this year, Boca Juniors, and there is a massive Martin Palermo-sized hole that Dario Cvitanich is trying to fill.