Another rather flat Racing performance hindered by the first half sending off of Luciano Lollo has left Diego Cocca’s with a lot of work to do if they want to reach the Copa Libertadores semi finals. With a clásico de Avellaneda to contend with before the second leg it is a huge week in Racing’s season and Cocca must balance his squad if they are to succeed.
Last night in Asunción Racing were not at their best but when defender Luciano Lollo was sent off before half time for an apparent elbow it made La Academia’s task all the more complicated.
Diego Milito was taken off shortly after time, leaving Gustavo Bou isolated in attack and Racing looked content to try and hold their hosts. They looked like doing this but with five minutes remaining Julián Benítez drilled a well-struck right-footed shot past Sebastián Saja.
Racing could have done without the clásico this weekend ahead of a huge second leg in Avellaneda next Thursday. Last season Diego Cocca drew the ire of Racing supporters when he claimed that he would prefer to lose the clásico if they could win the title. Luckily for him they did just that and so presumably once more, Cocca would sacrifice the clash with Independiente if they could lift the Libertadores.
golazo argentino 