Argentina’s two giants had weekends of stark contrast: Estudiantes’ draw on Friday combined with River Plate’s 1-0 win over Banfield on Saturday leaves the Millonarios top of the Clausura table on their own, whilst Boca Juniors, after two straight, Riquelme-inspired wins, returned to previous form, slumping to a 2-0 defeat away to Lanús in a desperately boring game on Sunday. Vélez Sarsfield won the last game of the weekend on Sunday night, and are only one point behind River, with (most of) one game in hand. All the weekend’s results – and goals – are right here.
Primera División Torneo Clausura 2011, ninth round
Club Estudiantes de La Plata 0 – 0 San Lorenzo de Almagro (D. Placente OFF 88)
Independiente (J. Pérez 54; H. Fredes 66; L. Núñez 85) 3 – 0 Club Deportivo Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba
Colón (M. Caire OFF 52) 0 – 2 Club Olimpo (N. Bareiro 16; M. Litre 67)
Arsenal Fútbol Club (L. López 72; L. Leguizamón 90) 2 – 2 Quilmes Atlético Club (P. Vazquez 25; P. Garnier 82)
Huracán 0 – 0 Racing Club
River Plate (M. Pavone 68) 1 – 0 Banfield (M. Bustamante OFF 88)
Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors (C. Rius 29) 1 – 1 Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata (J. Vizcarra 25)
Lanús (D. Valeri 79; S. Hoyos 85) 2 – 0 Boca Juniors
Tigre 0 – 1 All Boys (H. Barrientos 9)
Vélez Sarsfield (S. Silva 7; A. Fernández 78) 2 – 0 Newell’s Old Boys (M. Estigarribia OFF 50)
Independiente 3 – 0 Godoy Cruz
Colón 0 – 2 Olimpo
Arsenal 2 – 2 Quilmes
River 1 – 0 Banfield
Argentinos 1 – 1 Gimnasia
Lanús 2 – 0 Boca
Martín Palermo was again substituted for Lucas Viatri in the second half, but not before breaking an unwanted personal record; he’s now endured his longest ever spell without a goal.
Tigre 0 – 1 All Boys
Vélez 2 – 0 Newell’s
After that last match, Newell’s manager Roberto Sensini announced his resignation, with the side second bottom of the Clausura table and only having won one of their nine matches so far.
You can follow the ins and outs during the 2011 Torneo Clausura, as well as the country’s vast foreign legion and the latest news from the selección during the 2010-2011 season direct from Buenos Aires with HEGS on Twitter. If you’ve not signed up yet you can do so here. You can also join the official HEGS Facebook group, to keep up to date with the latest posts on the blog and discuss things with other fans. You’ll find it here. Also remember to bookmark Hand Of Pod, our Argentine football podcast, or if you prefer you can subscribe to it on iTunes here.
Photo taken from canchallena.com
Hasta El Gol Siempre 
A poor showing from Boca after they had given their suffering fans some hope with the victory over Estudiantes. Only a few players show better than mediocre performances week in and week out. Notably Cellay and Somoza. Monzon, filling in for the injured Calvo was horrible. Chavez ?-ditto. Palermo ?-nearly invisible. Riquelme ? Completely gassed by halftime and not a factor in the second period. Erviti ? He hasn’t found his place yet with Boca and as such he doesn’t add much. Did he get pushed around on the pitch like this at Banfield ? For a second I thought he was Buonanotte the way he was being constantly manhandled.
I’m still waiting for Falcioni to put a bullet in Martin and start Viatri, and maybe Mouche as well. If Roman is going to be tuckered out after 45 minutes, then better to have Viatri and Mouche on the pitch while Riquelme has some energy. Score a goal or two and then see if they can hang on.
I’m hoping Chavez and Monzon will get lost trying to return to Boca from training at EZE with the “B” national team, and we never have to see them ever again.
Thanks Johnny, you managed to make being a Boca fan even more depressing.
Sorry Mr. D. It is my fate to reflect the awful truth through my heavily shaded, aging Ray-Bans.