It all comes down to this. Two matches featuring the top four teams, and all separated by only two points. First will play third while second will play fourth.
San Lorenzo top the table, and know that a win away from home against Velez Sarsfield and they will be crowned Champions, however their form of late has been scratchy, dropping four points in their last two games. If they won only one of those they would be Champions by now, it just seems like the pressure is getting to them. They have one of the youngest defenses in the league, including 22 year-old left-back Walter Kannemann. Santiago Gentiletti will marshall the centre of defence with Mauro Cetto as Pablo Alvaro is suspended. San Lorenzo's midfielder Leandro Romagnoli (pictured) is their most creative player, Pipi as he is known, is not the most physical of players but he has wonderful ability with the ball and if he is given time he can find a pass to his front men to score. They have two teenage strikers leading the line in Hector Villalba and Angel Correa and if the pressure of the occasion doesn't get to them they will become heros overnight.
Velez have won the last three games and are in form going into the biggest game of the season. On-Loan Lazio striker Mauro Zarate is suspended for this game after getting sent off against Colon. Velez will probably start with Lucas Pratto and Ramiro Caseres up front, who have scored twelve goals between them. 19 year-old Caseres (pictured) is beginning to make a name for himself in Argentina and this would be the perfect opportunity for him to shine. Defensivley Sebastian Dominguez is the rock in the centre, while in midfield Ferderico Insua is the general, scoring goals and making opportunities for his team-mates. Velez will have to cope with the pressure of being at home, but their supporters will be 100% behind them. Whether they can roar them on to be Champions remains to be seen.
In the other game, newly crowned Coppa Sudamerica Champions Lanus travel to take on Newell's Old Boys. The euphoria of winning their first Continental Title will spur them on in this game. They have the best goal difference of all four teams so they know if San Lorenzo don't win and Lanus do, they will be Champions and cap off a wonderful week. Goalscorer in the Coppa Sudamerica final Victor Ayala and Jorge Ortiz are both suspended for this game for red cards picked up in their last match against Boca Juniors, so it will mean a reshuffle in midfield. Diego Gonzalea will probably come into the team to partner Nicolas Pasquini. Up-front Lanus could go with a three man attack featuring Ismael Blanco, Oscar Benitez and 'the tank' himself, Santiago Silva (pictured). If they can perform for one more game they could well make 2013 a year to remember for coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto. 
Newell's, probably outsiders to win the Title, have a chance to upset the applecart though. They are very experienced in defence, with Victor Lopez, Marcos Caseres, Victor Ruben and Ex-Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze. Pablo Perez and Lucas Berardi take control in midfield, while up-front they have the highly experienced, and hugely talented Ex-French International, and World Cup winning striker David Trezeguet (pictured). Joining him in attack will be Fabian Munoz. Keeping them from scoring will be a huge task for Lanus.
It will be an exiting finish to the Torneo Inicial for this season. Who will you be putting your money on?
Published by @gersloveofsport.
Goal difference doesn´t count in Argentina right?
ReplyDeleteYes Johan, you are correct. There will be a playoff to decide the Title
ReplyDelete