Huracán head into Wednesday night’s Libertadores clash with Bolivia’s Universitario knowing they must win in order to have any real chance of qualifying for the knockout stages. This year marks the first time El Globo have made an appearance in the Libertadores since 1974, where they embarked on an impressive run to the semi-finals, but three games into the tournament, Néstor Apuzzo’s men remain undefeated but have largely failed to impress.
The club have not been served well by the departure of Gonzalo ‘Pity’ Martínez to River Plate and the prolonged absence of Argentina U20 winger Cristian Espinoza, and find themselves 22nd in the standings after eight Primera matches. Huracán have also failed to score in their last two Libertadores games against Cruzeiro and Universitario respectively.
El Globo impressed in the qualifying rounds, destroying Peruvian giants Alianza Lima 4-0 to enter the group stages. A first half goal from Lucas Villaruel and a late penalty from Eduardo Domínguez saw Huracán draw 2-2 with Venezuelan side Mineros at the Tomás A. Ducó in a match they should have won, such was their superiority over the visitors. Apuzzo’s men then faced a daunting trip to Brazilian champions Cruzeiro, where they did well to withstand the Brazilian’s onslaught, and held on for a 0-0 draw. A trip to the Bolivian altitude to face Universitario followed, a game where El Globo managed to have more of the ball than the hosts but only muster four shots throughout the game as opposed to the Bolivian’s 18 attempts. 0-0 was the result once again.
Goals have been hard to come by domestically for Huracán as well, and with the exception of their 4-0 destruction of Argentinos Juniors, Apuzzo’s men have only found the net twice in four Primera games since the beginning of March.
El Globo host Universitario at the Tomás A. Ducó next in the Libertadores, and will look to goalscoring powerhouse Ramón Ábila to find a way past the Bolivians this time around. Huracán currently sit third in the group on three points, behind Cruzeiro and Universitario respectively who are both of five points.
The 2014 Copa Argentina winners are more than capable of overcoming the Bolivians, and the home advantage should play a big part in seeing El Globo emerge victorious on Wednesday. They are, on paper, the second strongest side in the group behind Cruzeiro, and can certainly qualify for the knockout rounds. A first win of the group stage on Wednesday will be just what Apuzzo’s men need to restore confidence within the side as well.
Daniel Gartner
Daniel is a 21-year-old journalism student and aspiring football journalist. He aims to live in Buenos Aires one day as a prominent football journalist, and his favourite leagues include the Argentinean Primera División, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, Liga MX and the Brasileirão. Also writes for The Roar and Outside 90.
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