The third round of matches in the 2008 Torneo Apertura is now over, and it’s been an interesting one. Boca Juniors returned to Argentina with a win but lost Martín Palermo, who’s torn knee ligaments and will be out for between five and eight months. That record will have to be put on ice for a while. San Lorenzo bounced back from Copa Sudamericana elimination at the hands of Argentinos with a thumping home win over Estudiantes, the clásico de Avellaneda finished all square, unjustly for Racing, and champions River Plate recorded their first loss of the campaign despite the goalscoring return of Radamel Falcao García.
Primera División A Torneo Apertura 2008, third round:
Rosario Central 0 – 1 Colón de Santa Fe (P. Aguilar 41)
Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata (D. Alonso 86) 1 – 0 Huracán
Banfield (S. Raymonda 7; N. Bertolo 36) 2 – 1 River Plate (R. F. García 90+3)
Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy (C. Carranza 32) 1 – 0 Newell’s Old Boys
Arsenal Fútbol Club (A. Gómez 4; M. Matos 85) 2 – 1 Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba (M. Aguirre 28)
Vélez Sársfield (V. Zapata 56) 1 – 1 Tigre (M. Giménez 69)
Racing Club (F. Sosa 89) 1 – 1 Independiente (D. Montenegro 40)
Boca Juniors (F. Vargas 26; C. Chávez 68) 2 – 1 Lanús (J. Sand 6)
San Martín de Tucumán 0 – 0 Argentinos Juniors
San Lorenzo de Almagro (C. Ledesma 9; B. Romeo 72; J. C. Menseguez 90+2) 3 – 0 Estudiantes de La Plata
Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with the colour on your monitor: there wasn’t a single red card given this weekend.
For the goals, check back later on Monday. Now that a sensible number of matches have passed, the league table will also be appearing shortly.
Hasta El Gol Siempre 
Ouch ! Tough break for Boca and Palermo. Too bad they can’t helicopter Boselli back from Estudiantes right now. It will be interesting to see what changes in strategy Ischia comes up with. Big chance for Viatri. I read he is been at Boca for 9 years.
Viatri looked quite good, but Lanus were, as often, unlucky. They play nice football, and will be in the title race till the end, I feel.
Great results for the Gimnasias. What do I keep saying? Gimnasia La Plata to stay up, Huracan to go down. Huracan have nothing to offer but the big boot and the long ball. When Piatti came on for GELP, he took the game into another dimension this Huracan side just don’t have. And Hugo Barrientos seems pretty p***ed off to still be playing for them.
On a related matter, gutted that only Argentine citizens can register for the Gran DT fantasy game in Clarin. Tried registering, but it was drop down menus and there wasn’t an option for ‘Manchester’. They also wanted my national identity number, and Jaqui Smith wasn’t available to tell me what it might be… ah well. Couldn’t be bothered with any of the Prem fantasy games, I hardly know who anyone from outside the Big Four is anymore…
Thank God “El Gran DT” let me change Palermo from my fantasy team!!! I spent 13 million on him and he won’t score any goal in this tournament! I hope Sand replece him good (in my team of course) And we’ll see who will replace him in Boca, Noir maybe?
To set the record straight, Viatri is only 21, so I am probably wrong in stating he has been at Boca for 9 years ! In addition, he has played in Venezuela and Ecuador. Looks like Ischia might decide to go with Palacio and Noir up front at times. It will probably be a work in progress.
Noe, what is your Gran DT squad? You could post it here or on the Facebook group, just curious to see who you’ve picked.
I wanted to register. I would definitely have wanted Civelli and Erviti, they’re gonna get so many goals and assists this season.
Unfortunately, I’m not too good about technology to have a facebook. So I’ll put it here. The team is 1-4-4-2 (Clarin asks you to form like that) So here it is: Bossio; Gandolfi, Hoyos, Danelón and Cristian Diaz; Garnier, Raymonda, Moreno y Fabianesi and Scotti; Sand and Boselli. In the bench: Taborda (goalkeeper), Nico Sanchez, Mercier, Andres Rios.
I think it’s a pretty good squad, and since I had to replace Palermo, I had more money to buy another kind of players for other positions. Just for you to know, it’s doesn’t matter if all those player play in the same position. Clarin just asks for 2 goalies, 5 defenders, 5 midfilders, and 3 strikers.
I imagine you wanted to register (I bet Sam wanted too!!) Sadly it’s only for us ‘cos you have a prize in Argie pesos . There’s no point you win that, haha.