Boca had not quite sewn up the Primera title in October and in fact a defeat to Racing had given Rosario Central and San Lorenzo a glimmer of hope but as we now know that door quickly slammed shut. Still, the title race aside, the battle for places in the Copa Libertadores playoff positions, the preposterous Copa Sudamericana playoffs and the relegation tussle meant there was still plenty to play for. Argentina beginning their World Cup qualifying campaign meant a weekend off but we take a quick look at what went on, as well as choose a manager, player and goal of the month.

Perhaps it was in September when Boca really wrapped up the title as certainly San Lorenzo’s late season form ended their hopes and Central’s 2-2 draw in the Nuevo Gasómetro during October, more or less ended theirs. Racing provided the only real drama in the title race but beating Boca in Avellaneda as La Academia could still clinch an automatic Copa Libertadores spot but a shock capitulation from Carlos Tevez and crew never materialised.

Racing will take their place in the Libertadores playoffs and the remaining teams are still not certain although the prospect of another clásico de Avellaneda with that prize on the line is a mouth-watering one. Further down the table (in fact much further down) the competition to enter the Copa Sudamericana is a tad more farsical, with two thirds of the bloated 30-team Primera duking it out for a place.

And in the descenso table, Nueva Chicago have done marvellously to simply take it to the final weekend. They didn’t earn their first win until round 20 but have won their last four on the trot and after looking certainties to join Crucero del Norte in the Nacional B, now are a positive result away from taking either Temperley or Huracán to a tie-breaker.

The Copa Sudamericana has almost reached its climax and although Independiente fell to Santa Fe in Colombia, holders, River Plate face Huracán in an all-Argentine semi-final.

The season hasn’t yet ended but the Primera has already seen it’s fair share of managerial changes (or at least it will at the end of the year). Title winning coaches Edgardo Bauza and Diego Cocca have said their farewells to San Lorenzo and Racing respectively and Miguel Ángel Russo’s testing year with Vélez will also come to an end. At least two of those three give whoever comes in to replace them big shoes to fill but before 2016 comes around, there may well be more changes. Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s continuation with Boca is by no means certain with a presidential election taking place and Marcelo Gallardo is reportedly being earmarked by Marcelo Tinelli, the AFA presidential hopeful, as a replacement for Gerardo Martino. Time will tell.

Talk of Martino’s future as Argentina boss increased after a disastrous start to World Cup qualifying during October. Defeat to Ecuador in the Monumental and a goalless draw against Paraguay have left La Albiceleste with just a point and with matches against Brazil and Colombia this month, Argentina could be in trouble.

And it wasn’t just the senior side guilty of failing. Argentina under-17s crashed out of the World Cup in Chile in the group stages with three defeats. The result of which has AFA presidential candidates talking about reform.

Anyway, here are the selections for October….

Manager of the Month

With a match against another of the Primera’s in-form sides, Quilmes on the final day and even then a playoff, it looks as though Nueva Chicago will still be relegated but El Torito and their manager, Rubén Forestello should be applauded for an impressive end to their campaign. Four consecutive victories, including a five-goal romp against Newell’s have at least kept Chicago in with a shout and although in all likelihood it will end in relegation, the transformation from the side that went 2o matches without a win is commendable.

Player of the Month

Gimnasia had a dreadful August and September which all but ended their hopes of a spot in the Copa Libertadores playoffs but in the past couple of weeks, Pedro Troglio’s side have shown signs of a revival. Midfielder, Ignacio Fernández has been central to that and his brace against Temperley helped El Lobo to a first win in seven. The 25-year-old has been one of Gimnasia’s more consistent performers in a season of patchy form and it is little surprise that San Lorenzo are reportedly closing in on a deal to bring him to Bajo Flores for 2016.

Goal of the Month

Did he mean it? Was it a horrendously hit cross? Well, we will give Alejandro Gagliardi the benefit of the doubt for his incredible volley against Newell’s earlier in October. Nueva Chicago haven’t had much to cheer about this season and unfortunately their blistering run of form looks to have come too late and the Nacional B will still claim them but Gagliardi had an afternoon to remember when he struck four times in the five-nil demolition of Newell’s. This was the first and set El Torito on their way not only to victory but to a still possible miraculous escape.