Independiente will be grateful for two things after Sunday’s victory in La Paternal: firstly, striker Emmanuel Gigliotti is in the best form of his career and with a brace took his season tally to eleven already and secondly, that Argentinos Juniors look utterly incapable of scoring.
Ariel Holan’s side lost in Tucumán last weekend against an Atlético side riding high in the table but Sunday’s early trip to the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona saw Independiente take on the Superliga’s bottom side and a team that has only scored in one game this term.
Despite that the visitors will be relieved to have left with the points after a poor performance that should not have gone unpunished by Argentinos.
Gigliotti’s splendid turn and shot after quarter of an hour gave Independiente an early lead but did little to steady the game from its stream of constant misplaced passes and bad touches.
Argentinos Juniors enjoyed plenty of possession and after both sides had strong penalty claims waved away, Los Bichos had a period of second half superiority that warranted at least a goal. Damián Batallini blazed over and youngster Gastón Verón saw Martín Campaña deny him from close range but if that chance was one that should have been dispatched, the one that Verón put over the bar from six-yards out was unmissable.
Having squandered the opportunity to level, Independiente killed off the game. Maxi Meza slid a through ball into the path of former Argentinos forward Braian Romero and his low cross was slid in by man of the hour Gigliotti. The 31-year-old’s eleven goals for the campaign already equals his best ever tally and El Puma has done so in just ten games.
An important victory even if the performance was lacking but a deepening concern for Argentinos, who are dragged towards the relegation zone after such a positive first season back in the top flight. Los Bichos are closing in on a club record barren run in front of goal and the longer it remains, the more relegation becomes a realistic worry.
Argentinos Juniors 0 – 2 Independiente
San Lorenzo are also enduring a miserable run and while relegation might not be a concern for El Ciclón it did see Claudio Biaggio’s spell in charge of the club come to an end last week. Jorge Almirón is poised to be named the new manager but has his work cut out after Talleres secured a 1-0 win in the Nuevo Gasómetro on Sunday.
Talented Boca Juniors loanee Gonzalo Maroni provided the match with a moment of the utmost quality and with it sealed the win after 20 minutes, carrying the ball from close to half way before bending it perfectly into the top corner.
Both sides created chances in a relatively even encounter but San Lorenzo couldn’t find a way past Guido Herrera. Talleres saw Adrián Cubas sent off in stoppage time but it left no time for the home side to make use of their numerical advantage.
Almirón is set to return to Argentina after a disappointing spell in Colombia and will be aiming to reproduce similar results to those that he managed with Lanús. However, the Primera winning coach doesn’t look to have the same level of quality to apply to his preferred 4-3-3. Almirón’s San Lorenzo may be a work in progress.
San Lorenzo 0 – 1 Talleres
Rosario Central followed up their midweek clásico win over Newell’s Old Boys in the cup with a draw against Colón.
Javier Correa held off two defenders to give Colón the lead in the Gigante de Arroyito but an improved second half display by Central saw Guido Herrera head a 63rd minute equaliser.
golazo argentino 