The twelfth round of Torneo Clausura matches is upon us, and it’s an early start to what is in Argentina a long weekend (stretching from Saturday to Tuesday, believe it or not), as Estudiantes and Vélez play each other in La Plata at – for some reason – 3:15pm. Later in the round joint leaders Boca and Newell’s take on two of the sides running them close in the title race: Colón and All Boys, respectively. The weekend’s tasty menu is rounded off on Monday night with a clash between Belgrano and Tigre in Córdoba. Step this way for the full details.
All kick off times are local. Add four hours for British Summer Time.
Primera División Torneo Clausura 2012, twelfth round
Club Estudiantes de La Plata v Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield (Fri, 15:15; refereed by P. Díaz)
Club Atlético Lanús v Racing Club (Fri, 20:15; G. Delfino)
Club Atlético San Martín de San Juan v Club Deportivo Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba (Sat, 14:00; S. Pezzotta)
Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys v Club Atlético All Boys (Sat, 16:30; D. Abal)
Club Atlético Boca Juniors v Club Atlético Colón (Sat, 18:40; F. Beligoy)
Club Atlético Independiente v Club Atlético Banfield (Sat, 20:20; S. Laverni)
Club Atlético Unión v Club Olimpo (Sun, 15:00; J.P. Pompei)
Asociación Atlético Argentinos Juniors v Asociación Mutual Social y Deportiva Atlético de Rafaela (Sun, 15:00; N. Pitana)
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro v Arsenal Fútbol Club (Sun, 17:15; M. Vigliano)
Club Atlético Belgrano v Club Atlético Tigre (Mon, 19:20; A. Toia)
The pick of the Nacional B games this weekend are leaders Instituto’s trip to Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy at 9pm on Saturday, Aldosivi welcoming River Plate to Mar Del Plata at 7:15 on Sunday evening, and a huge relegation clash when Guillermo Brown and Atlanta – both tied in the relegation zone on 29 points from 30 matches, along with Desamparados – meet in Puerto Madryn at 3:30pm on Monday.
You can follow the latest news from the selección and Argentina’s foreign legion of players, as well as the domestic championship, River Plate’s first second division campaign in over a century and the ever entertaining/tragic/infuriating capers of Julio Grondona & chums 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. And remember to bookmark Hand Of Pod, our Argentine football podcast, or if you prefer you can subscribe to it on iTunes here.
Hasta El Gol Siempre 