Thursday’s pending Copa Libertadores matches impacted on this weekend’s fixtures as all those involved chose to take the opportunity to rest key players and as a result two Buenos Aires clásicos were not quite so ‘classic’ as they might have been. River and Racing’s largely reserve sides battled to a goalless draw inside the Monumental and in Avellaneda, Boca Juniors salvaged a draw against Independiente, to remain unbeaten and two points clear at the top of the table.
Marcelo Gallardo’s River and Diego Cocca’s Racing were the two standout sides from the Transición and in addition to both harbouring dreams of lifting the Libertadores, they both have ambitions to be crowned Primera champions in 2015. At any other time of the season, the visit of La Academia to the Monumental would be one of the most attractive and fiercely contested fixtures of the season but on Sunday afternoon with huge Libertadores last 16 ties in four days it was the meeting of two reserve sides.
It was River who were the better side and had it not been for a slightly lacking creative spark and decisiveness in front of goal perhaps they would have snatched victory. As it was. Racing’s defence was able to hold firm and so the match ended goalless. River remain three behind Boca at the top while Racing, for whom this was a good point, sit back in seventh but just six points behind the leaders they remain within striking distance.
In Avellaneda, Jorge Almirón’s under-fire Independiente faced league leaders Boca Juniors, who once again flexed their squad strength to rest several players but remain a side enviable to most in the Primera. Despite a decent start by the visitors it was El Rojo that took the lead when Lucas Albertengo timed his run to perfection to head in Matías Pisano’s cross from the left.
The lead did not last too long though and Guillermo Burdisso exposed the defensive weakness of Independiente to head in from a corner six yards out with only the slightest of challenges.
While the home side appeared content to allow Boca possession during the first half, they appeared to increase their tempo after the break and press with far more urgency higher up the pitch. Independiente were then the team looking more likely to find a winner as Boca looked more satisfied with the point, however neither could find a way through.
The major talking point occurred with just a couple of minutes remaining. Boca’s Sebastián Palacios appeared to dribble the ball out of play and so not wanting to waste any time, Independiente captain Federico Mancuello was thrown a second ball from one of the ballboys. However, the linesman did not award a throw and so Palacios continued paying, even to his surprise, and in an effort to stop him and frustration, Mancuello threw the second ball onto the pitch. Once referee Silvio Trucco realised what had happened he had little option but to show Mancuello a second yellow card.
Mancuello’s red card had little effect on the outcome of this match but crucially the recent Argentina debutant will now miss the clásico with Racing next weekend. Almirón’s side are already seven matches without a victory and defeat in the clásico could well end his managerial tenure so the loss of the talismanic Mancuello is a huge blow. El Rojo are now pinning their hopes on AFA’s article 225 which could see the suspension delayed if a member of the squad is away on international duty. It just so happens that young Rodrigo Moreira is off with the Argentina under-20s but having not yet played for the first team it is doubtful that this will be permitted by the AFA.
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