1. Boca put their troubles behind them to end on a high

Boca have endured an awful last month after seeing their league form dip in the wake of the Copa Libertadores disqualification but on Sunday evening in an empty La Bombonera, Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s side rediscovered their form and eased past managerless Newell’s. Daniel Díaz thumped in a free-kick with the aid of a deflection from the edge of the box after just four minutes and although Newell’s came close to an equaliser when Ignacio Scocco rattled the upright from distance, the home side dominated after half time. Sebastián Palacios added a smart second just after the break and shortly after Jonathan Calleri headed a third before Andrés Chávez completed the rout from the penalty spot. As we now go into the mid-season break, Boca will be buoyed to find themselves just a point behind leaders San Lorenzo.
The drama and the disappointment of the Libertadores episode undoubtedly affected Boca and with that behind them and a more positive atmosphere, Los Xeneizes should challenge for the title. It could be a busy break in the season though with rumours of a lot of changes at La Bombonera so we wait and see.

2. Racing find themselves right back in the mix

Racing notched a third straight victory to lift them into third after taking advantage of Vélez Sarsfield’s implosion which resulted in two penalties and two red cards. Diego Milito had already seen one spotkick saved by Alan Aguerre when Fernando Echenique awarded another on the half hour mark and this time Gustavo Bou made no mistake in opening the scoring. Washington Camacho headed Racing two infront shortly after half time before Vélez were reduced to ten men when Matias Pérez Acuña was sent off. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Fausto Grillo pulled a goal back before being shown a red card for a wild challenge on Ricardo Díaz and left with only nine players, Diego Milito wrapped up the points with a third for Racing. La Academia appear to have hit stride at just the right time and when the Primera season resumes they find themselves well placed to defend their title.

3. Top five separated by four points will make an exciting title race

Had we still been playing the short tournament format, we would be heading for an utterly thrilling run-in with five or six teams all in with a shout of lifting the trophy with just a couple of games to play. As it is with this long 2015 season, we go into the mid-season break with a top five separated by just four points and the destination of the title still anyone’s guess.
The classic Buenos Aires ‘Big-Five’ (in this case barring Independiente) would appear to be back at the top table of Argentine football with Boca, Racing (already mentioned) joined by River Plate and San Lorenzo. Edgardo Bauza’s 2014 Copa Libertadores winners lead the way on 32 points, boasting the joint-best defensive record, with Racing, but River hold a game in-hand after their postponed clash with Tigre, and could go level at the top with a win. Boca and Racing sit just behind and look primed for a second half challenge and crashing the Buenos Aires party are Rosario Central.
Eduardo Coudet’s side have only lost once but after a superb start to the season have started drawing far too many matches and in fact have picked up only two wins from their last ten Primera matches. Central have shown great resolve in coming back to salvage points in most of those games but if they are to maintain a tilt at the title, a return to bagging three points is needed.
With a whole fifteen games still to go there is time for a challenge from outside or one of these teams to completely fall away but either way the second half of the season should create an exciting race.

4. Independiente new boss and new start after the break

The first half of the season could not have finished soon enough for Independiente after all the pre-season quickly fizzled out and El Rojo find themselves mired in midtable. Defeat to Racing in the clásico de Avellaneda a couple of weeks ago spelled the end for Jorge Almirón and after a lengthy application process, president Hugo Moyano has opted for ex-Estudiantes manager Mauricio Pellegrino. The 43-year-old will take over after the break and will hopefully have had a chance to bring in some new faces and address the issues within the squad.
Since Almirón left, Fernando Berón has been interim manager and in his first match in charge, El Rojo ended a seven-match winless streak with a victory over Tigre in Avellaneda and followed that with a rather fortunate draw away to Rosario Central.
Pellegrino was not perhaps the most popular choice with the supporters but realistic candidates were not leaping out and any others that were tentatively approached seemed to reply negatively. As a former central defender, the hope will be that Pellegrino can finally sort out what has been a fairly calamitous defence over the past year and most likely find a way to replace captain Federico Mancuello, who will most likely leave for Europe.
With the the second clásico against Racing, plenty of points up for grabs and the Copa Sudamericana to play in the second half of the year, Independiente still have plenty to play for.

5. Halfway in – can Crucero and Nueva Chicago avoid the drop?

Promotion from the Nacional B for this whopping 30-team Primera was vital to so many teams and a great opportunity for others to taste the top flight when they otherwise wouldn’t. With only two dropping down to the Nacional B at the end of 2015, there are good odds on staying up. The two sides that currently occupy the spaces have plenty of time to reverse their situation but can Crucero del Norte and Nueva Chicago really do enough to get themselves out of trouble?
Nueva Chicago were huge beneficaries of the change in league format and gained two promotions within a year but are struggling now. Still without a win at the halfway point it is difficult to see them picking up enough wins to drag themselves above two others while Crucero del Norte’s mere place in the Primera is still greeted with derision. The bus company from Misiones created a bit of a ‘leveller’ when playing at home on their rather lush surface in Garupá but every away trip thus far has ended in defeat. In what could be deemed a submission, Crucero will play their home matches against River Plate and Independiente elsewhere in the knowledge that higher gate receipts are of more valuable than any advantage gained from playing in suspiciously long grass and so like Chicago it is really tough to see them surviving.
Huracán currently find themselves down there but were undoubtedly distracted by the Copa Libertadores during the first half and will expect an improvement after the break and while the likes of Olimpo, Quilmes and Defensa y Justicia will be looking over their shoulders you suspect all will pick up sufficient points to remain at least for another six months in 2016.

All the goals from Round Fifteen….