Team & Goal of the week: Round Eighteen

· by · in argentinos juniors, goals, independiente, racing, superliga 2017/18, Uncategorized. ·

Team of the week returns and with fourteen matches to choose from here are the eleven that impressed from round eighteen, along with our Player of the round and pick of the goals. All stats come courtesy of WhoScored.com, who also provide previews and live in-play match stats for all Superliga matches. Feel free to disagree and leave a comment suggesting who you thought should have made it…

Team of the week - Football tactics and formations

Juan Musso  ||  Racing Club

Racing have struggled to find a goalkeeper since Sebastián Saja left the club in 2016 but in Juan Musso they look to have found a promising long-term candidate. There are still question marks over the 23-year-old but against Vélez on Sunday, Musso made a number of outstanding stops to ensure that La Academia chalked up a fifth straight win.

Fabricio Bustos  ||  Independiente

Fabricio Bustos’ standard by his own admission had just dropped off a little in recent weeks but the Bayern Munich-linked full-back was back to somewhere close to his best in Independiente’s convincing win over San Martín. The 21-year-old’s marauding attacks down the wing were rewarded by slotting in El Rojo’s second goal.

Guillermo Ortiz  ||  Colón

The defences came out on top in Colón’s goalless draw with Huracán on Friday and Guillermo Ortiz was the pick of the bunch. Without usual centre-back partner Germán Conti, the 25-year-old was dominant in the air and aside from ten clearances, recorded 100% tackle success.

Germán Ré  ||  Chacarita Juniors

Despite being 36 years of age, Germán Ré was outstanding in Chacarita Juniors’ draw away to River Plate. As expected, the visitors found themselves under prolonged periods of pressure and while River don’t pose the attacking threat they once did, Ré was still required to repel a number of attacks, winning possession seven times and making seven clearances.

Kevin Mac Allister  ||  Argentinos Juniors

A 20-year-old full-back up against one of the Superliga’s most dangerous forwards, Cristian Pavón, could have been a recipe for disaster but Kevin Mac Allister was outstanding as Argentinos Juniors shocked Boca Juniors on Monday evening. Pavón had a quiet evening while Mac Allister notched up seven tackles and nine interceptions.

Pol Fernández  ||  Godoy Cruz

A blistering golazo in last week’s defeat to Racing, Pol Fernández produced another excellent display as Godoy Cruz recorded a surprising away win over Rosario Central. The 26-year-old’s long range effort in the Gigante de Arroyito proved to be the winner but Fernández was at the centre of El Tomba’s possession and creativity.

Player of the week
Alexis Mac Allister  ||  Argentinos Juniors

Father Carlos might be a former Boca Juniors star but it must have been a special night for El colorado as two of his boys shone against his former club. While Kevin defended admirably, younger brother Alexis was vital to Argentinos Juniors securing the points. The 19-year-old volleyed the opening goal and played a central role in the move that created the second, exchanging passes before rolling the ball to Damián Batallini for a tap-in. On such evidence it is easy to see why MLS clubs are already keeping tabs on the midfielder.

Ricardo Centurión  ||  Racing Club

Another week and another goal for Ricardo Centurión, who in front of Jorge Sampaoli is making a late claim for a place in Argentina’s World Cup squad. A thumping header sealed the points for Racing against Vélez but as usual, Centurión was a positive, creative force from deep, always looking to run at the opposition.

Martín Benítez  ||  Independiente

For the second week in a row, Martín Benítez earns a place in the Team of the Week after another important goal for Independiente. Last week’s strike earned victory against Banfield and on Monday evening in San Juan, Benítez opened the scoring en route to a 4-0 win. The 23-year-old’s well-taken goal aside, Benítez completed six dribbles and his pace was a key reason that El Rojo enjoyed such success on the counter.

Sebastián Ribas  ||  Patronato

With eleven goals in the Superliga, Sebastián Ribas is now the out-right leading scorer and in his current form looks like finding the net in every game. Patronato are hardly one of the top sides but the powerful Uruguayan’s two headers earned a useful point away to Belgrano on Friday.

Damián Batallini  ||  Argentinos Juniors

Argentinos Juniors’ attack caused Boca problems all evening during their impressive 2-0 win and while Nicolás González and Javier Cabrera also deserve praise, Damián Batallini sealed the victory with the home side’s second. The 21-year-old completed three dribbles but was also committed in his defensive duties to help shackle Cristian Pavón down Boca’s right.

Goal of the week

a) Leonardo Sequeira – BELGRANO v Patronato

b) Germán Herrera – CENTRAL v Godoy Cruz

c) Damián Batallini – ARGENTINOS JUNIORS v Boca

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