Copa de La Liga: Boca end run of draws and Racing qualify

Fecha’s 11 and 12 of the Copa de la Liga saw some crucial encounters at the top of Group A & B for Estudiantes and Racing. River Plate suffered their first defeat since the Superclásico while Boca won for the first time since their victory over Los Millonarios. Here’s our round-up of the weekend action.

Fecha 11

Estudiantes put Tigre in their place

Estudiantes beat Tigre to make it four wins from four games in the Copa de la Liga maintain their position at the top of Group B.

Despite both sides having numerous chances the opening goal did not come until the 73rd minute when substitute Franco Zapiola fired in from outside the box to give Los Pincharratas the lead.

Mauro Boselli then doubled their advantage after some great build up play. El Matador got one back through Nicolás Demartini on the 91st minute but it was too little too late and Ricardo Zielinski side held on to the 2-1 victory.

⏱ ¡FINAL! ¡GANÓ ESTUDIANTES! Victoria trabajada ante el Matador para ratificar nuestro liderazgo en la zona. En el segundo tiempo llegaron los goles y volvimos a festejar en casa. ¡ADELANTE ESTUDIANTES!#ElPinchaRuge 🦁🇦🇹#EDLP 2 – 1 #Tigre
⚽ Zapiola y Boselli / Demartini pic.twitter.com/dd2LbKMM6V

— Estudiantes de La Plata (@EdelpOficial) April 19, 2022

It was a big win for Estudiantes in the race for top spot in Group B and a result which came with them having just 38% possession. However, they made up for it with the chances they created with 21 shots to Tigre’s 10.

Can anyone stop Racing?

Racing made it seven consecutive wins with a victory over Patronato at the Estadio Presbítero Bartolomé Grella.

Fernando Gago’s side took the lead on just the 8th minute as Nery Domínguez played a long ball forward to Javier Correa who latched onto it before lobbing Matías Mansilla to give his side the lead.

Patronato did not take long to respond and were level on the 13th minute as Nicolás Castro’s shot squirmed past Gastón Gómez.

La Academia were then awarded a penalty which was powerfully fired in by Matias Rojas to give his side the lead going into half-time.

Correa then added to his tally on the 56th minute with a carbon copy of his first goal with Domínguez playing a long pass for the striker to lift the ball over Mansilla.

A sloppy pass from Edwin Cardona gifted Patronato a goal back in added time as Axel Rodríguez took advantage of this. Lucas Orbán was then sent off on the 94th minute for pulling back Gabriel Gudiño when he was through on goal.

¡Buenas noches, Racing! 👋

Nos vamos a dormir con otra victoria 🙌 💙 pic.twitter.com/d4keNt0pDi

— Racing Club (@RacingClub) April 21, 2022

Racing held on to win 3-2 in a match where they had less shots on goal with just 9 compared to Patronato’s 22.

River suffer shock defeat

After three straight victories River Plate suffered their first defeat in the Copa de la Liga since the Superclásico in a 1-0 defeat to Talleres Córdoba.

The goal came on the 53rd minute courtesy of a Diego Valoyes’ acrobatic finish. Marcelo Gallardo’s side had 65% of possession but with it only managed two more shots, 10 to La T’s 8.

Fecha 12

Boca back to winning ways

Boca Juniors finally put their run of four draws in a row to an end as they won for the first time in the league since the Superclásico with a victory over Central Córdoba.

🎥 ¡La victoria frente a Central Córdoba, desde adentro!

Las mejores acciones de lo que fue el triunfo en la noche de Santiago del Estero.

💙💛💙#VamosBoca 🟦🟨🟦 pic.twitter.com/tIZoHeRtcK

— Boca Juniors (@BocaJrsOficial) April 24, 2022

Xeneizes took the lead on the 3rd minute as Óscar Romero’s cross was fired in by Eduardo Salvio.

Renzo López saw his penalty saved by Javier García on the 22nd minute but made amends just before half-time. El Ferroviario were given another penalty and this time López smashed the ball past Garcia.

The second half saw Cristopher Toselli in inspired form denying Boca with some remarkable saves. However, on the 83rd minute Sebastián Battaglia finally got over the mark. Sebastián Villa’s crossed the ball to Salvio whose second of the game turned out to win the game 2-1.

Boca had 65% of possession but other then that it was a fairly even game with both sides having 7 shots on target.

The result leaves Boca second in Group B with 21 points only behind Estudiantes who have 25 points.

Racing into the knockout stages

Racing’s 0-0 draw with Newell’s Old Boys means they have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Copa de la Liga.

Fernando Gago’s side would have been frustrated that his side did not take all three points as his team had 72% of possession and 26 shots.

La Academia remain undefeated at the top of Group A with 28 points.