Round one of the mammoth 30-team Primera came to an end last night and, oddly enough for the Argentine top flight, perhaps the results were as expected. Estudiantes edged Arsenal in Sarandí with Israel Damonte’s first half goal enough to settle a tight, cagey opening fixture and Belgrano had too much for newly promoted Nueva Chicago in Cordoba. Despite the home side playing the majority of the match with ten men and gifting their visitors a penalty, they were too strong and goals from Sergio Escudero, Mauro Óbolo and Lucas Zelarayán got Los Celestes off to a winning start.

Arsenal de Sarandí  0 – 1  Estudiantes

Estudiantes were undoubtedly one of the winners of the summer transfer window and on Monday evening they picked up their first three points of the season with a valuable victory in the usually difficult Sarandí. Arsenal possessed one of the best home records of the Transición but tasted defeat in their opening match of 2015. Israel Damonte’s smart, hooked volley moments before the break settled it.

Belgrano  3 – 1  Nueva Chicago

Travelling to Cordoba to face Belgrano is not one of the Primera División’s easiest away days but Nueva Chicago will perhaps not get a better opportunity. Judging by their inability to take advantage, it might be fair to say that Chicago will be a little out of their depth this season. Certainly their marking from a corner in just the third minute was inadequate and allowed Sergio Escudero the simplest of opening goals. After twenty minutes the lead was doubled when Mauro Óbolo was able to turn in a rebound following a freekick that had come back off the crossbar.
Before half time, Chicago were gifted two lifelines: Firstly, Pier Barrios was sent off for jumping into a header with his arms raised and secondly, Ariel Penel awarded a penalty after some holding at a corner which was tucked away by Ramón Lentini.
Playing the entire second half with the man advantage, Chicago needed to test their hosts more but were unable to find an equaliser. With minutes remaining, the hugely impressive, Lucas Zelarayán blasted in a third for Belgrano from range.