In spite of the appalling scenes prior to San Lorenzo vs. Vélez (which was called off) and Huracán vs. Boca, most of the matches in the Primera A went ahead all the same this weekend. The River vs. Racing clásico finished goalless, a result that just about keeps River in the early phases of the title hunt, but leaves Racing in danger in the Promedio. There were a respectable 25 goals from the eight matches that took place, Estudiantes’ five-goal thriller against San Martín and Banfield’s amazing 3-3 fightback at home to Tigre the highlights.
Primera División A Torneo Clausura 2008, sixth round
Olimpo de Bahía Blanca (J. Lujambio 71, OFF 71) 1 – 3 Rosario Central (E. Zelaya 35, 63; C. ‘Kily’ González 87)
Estudiantes de La Plata (Moreno y Fabianesi 34; L. Lázzaro 41, 43) 3 – 2 San Martín de San Juan (F. Décima 20; M. Bravo 58; F. Quiroz OFF 32; P. Frontini OFF 55)
San Lorenzo de Almagro P – P Vélez Sársfield
Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy P – P Lanús
Banfield (C. Lucchetti 17; D. Cvitanich 86; L. Civelli 90+1) 3 – 3 Tigre (S. Morero 6; M. Giménez 46; R. Martínez 80)
Independiete (D. Montenegro 48; M. Di Gregorio 54; G. Denis 56) 3 – 1 Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata (M. Escobar 62)
Colón de Santa Fé 0 – 1 Argentinos Juniors (G. Hauche 15)
River Plate 0 – 0 Racing Club (F. Sosa OFF 85)
Newell’s Old Boys (A. Da Silva 7, 46; J. C. Ferreyra 44, 89) 4 – 1 Arsenal de Sarandí (J. L. Calderón 79)
Huracán 0 – 0 Boca Juniors
For the goals, as ever, check back tomorrow.
Hasta El Gol Siempre 
River’s finishing was appalling. How Archubi missed that second-half header I’ll never know.
Another thumbs-up for my theory of how Racing is slowly becoming a small club. We played for that 0-0 and we celebrated like mad when we got it.
No intention to win it. A great attitude in defense but that’s something you’d expect to highlight in a small club going to El Monumental knowing that a draw will be like a victory to them.
But…here’s when my head and my heart have that problem. Aren’t we a small club these days?
I think we are, yes. It hurts to say it, but I think we are.
Therefore, I’m quite pleased with that result.
And Justin, do you agree with me that River were there to win UNTIL Ortega got injured?
I think he would have been the key to help River win it. We got lucky there.
Archubi was sub-par. Abreu and Falcao were poor yesterday. Some glimpses of Buonanotte and Sanchez but not too much.
I do agree Seba. The suddenly fast-again Ortega holds the key to River’s attack options. How many times did he send gorgeous balls out wide for Buonanotte to run at his defender? He forced one good save from Navarro from one of those. After Burrito went off, Buonanotte didn’t get a single other ball like that.
I also agree about Falcao and Abreu being poor.
It seemed like Maxi didn’t have a teammate within 20 yards of him for much of the game, so yes you have to question Racing’s attacking intent. But in reality it’s a good point. Even during the disastrous Apertura, River were very dangerous at home.
I haven’t seen Abreu have a decent game yet. He has to be one of the laziest players I have ever seen.
I actually thought Buonanotte had a decent second half in the centre of the field and we really did pile on a bit a pressure against a team who had no intention of going forward, but did have some interesting ways of tackling.
But 0-0 at home against the bottom club, no matter how big, with an extra man is not title chasing stuff.
Time Abreu was rotated out for a while.
Agreed, Joe. Abreu has been pretty dreadful so far. You have to question the wisdom of buying an aerial threat and then not sending in any crosses to him, but he has also missed a lot of chances and, as you say, doesn’t work very hard.