Sunday was a quiet day for the pre-season preparations of the ‘big’ sides, but one of the biggest exiles to the lower divisions had cause for celebration this weekend. I told you a few weeks ago how Ferro, a grand old club with a semi-glorious past, just escaped relegation to the B Metropolitana after seeing off Estudiantes de Buenos Aires in a playoff. Well, this weekend the club turned 103 years old.
That playoff seems to have given those involved in the club a collective kick up the backsides, and there’s been a lot of talk about determination to take them forward and get them back where they belong. But first there was a party to be had, and they did it in style, seeing off CINEF – who as far as I can make out were a team made up of players not registered to clubs, who are undergoing a football training programme – 3-1. A good win in their first match of the pre-season could prove the kind of confidence boost they needed.
Elsewhere preparations continued apace with Platense hosting Atlanta in a 1-1 draw, and Chacarita Juniors drawing 0-0 with Español in a dire match. No such trouble for Nueva Chicago, who took our their frustration at relegation from the top flight on Merlo, thumping their hosts 5-0 in a 70 minute game in which Sergio Rodríguez, who a couple of weeks ago was fearing for his professional future after being released by Lanús, was involved in four of the goals.
The Primera A Torneo Apertura starts on Friday, so look out, during the week, for our brief profile of all 20 of the participating clubs, which will be online by Tuesday or Wednesday.
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