The Copa de la Liga returned this weekend and it did not disappoint with great games, goals, upsets and a bit of controversy: business as usual in Argentina!
2021 and 2020 champions face off
In the tie of the round, last years’ Copa de la Liga champions ColΓ³n faced the 2020 Champions Boca Juniors at a packed-out La Bombonera. The visitors nearly took the lead in the 2nd minute as a Luis Miguel RodrΓguez header was cleared off the line by Carlos Izquierdoz.
It was a returning hero in DarΓo Benedetto who headed in SebastiΓ‘n Villa’s cross on the 23rd minute to give Boca the lead. Benedettoβs goal was a trademark header and one which his fans had been used to seeing from him in his first spell with the club.
SebastiΓ‘n Battaglia had the better of the match with 57% possession, but his side were left frustrated as ColΓ³n levelled the score on the 86th minute from their first corner of the game. Facundo FarΓasβs corner was flicked on by RodrΓguez for Lucas BeltrΓ‘n to bundle in to share the points at 1-1.

Upset for Champions River
River Plate suffered a big upset as they lost 1-0 to AtlΓ©tico UniΓ³n, despite Marcelo Gallardoβs side having 74% possession and 628 passes compared to UniΓ³nβs 217. Mauro Lunaβs 58th minute penalty proved decisive after Franco Armani brought down Juan Ignacio Nardoni in the box.
After the game Gallardo questioned the referee Nestor Petanaβs performance. Manchester Cityβs new signing JuliΓ‘n Γlvarez, who has been loaned back to Los Millonarios until July, failed to make any impact in the game.
ππ₯³ Β‘FINAL Y TRIUNFO!
β3 en el debut
Con gol de Mauro Luna Diale, de penal, #UniΓ³n derrotΓ³ a @RiverPlate por 1 a 0.
Β‘Gritalo, Tatengue! π¦πΉ pic.twitter.com/3bykGIuKRh
β Club AtlΓ©tico UniΓ³n (@clubaunion) February 13, 2022
False start for RacingΒ
Last seasonβs runners up Racing Club were held to a 0-0 draw with Gimnasia at the El Cilindro de Avellaneda. The home side failed to capitalise on their 66% possession and 15 shots. La Acadamia forward Javier Marcelo Correa also saw his 27th minute penalty saved by Rodrigo Rey. MatΓas Rojas came closest to breaking the deadlock as his shot from outside of the box on the 52nd minute flew just past the post.
Gimnasia were not short of their own chances, with eightΒ shots on goal. Racing manager Fernando Gago had his goalkeeper to thank late on as GastΓ³n GΓ³mez made two fantastic saves to deny GermΓ‘n Guiffrey and Johan Carbonero taking all three points for El Lobo.

How did the promoted teams fare?Β
Barracus Central suffered a 3-1 defeat to Central Cordoba despite having 60% of the ball. Cordoba took an early lead in just the 4th minute as Renzo Lopez headed in from a corner. It then took until the 84th minute when Abel ArgaΓ±araz doubled their lead with a tap in.
Barracus got one back on the 86th minute from Neri Brandiera before Silvio Alejandro MartΓnez sealed the victory for the home side in added time with a powerful strike.
Tigre started brightly in their opening game against Godoy Cruz. The newly promoted side took the lead on the 36th minute when Lucas Blondel fired in a half-volley from outside the box.
π³ Les juro que quiero entender lo que hizo, pero es una locuraβ¦
La magia de β¨Lucas Blondelβ¨ pic.twitter.com/QcNEc9Hht6
β Club AtlΓ©tico Tigre (@catigreoficial) February 12, 2022
It was looking likely Tigre would take all three points with Godoy Cruz being reduced to 10-men when ElΓas LΓ³pez was shown a straight red card on the 91st minute. However, despite being a man less Gianluca Cruz managed to find space in the box to slot home the equaliser on the 93rd minute to rescue a point.
Best of the restΒ
Elsewhere in the division there were notable victories for Newellβs Old Boys, VΓ©lez Sarsfield and Estudiantes.
Newellβs beat 10-man Defensa y Justicia thanks to a wonderful headed goal from Francisco AgustΓn GonzΓ‘lez. Although La Lepra nearly rued not making the most of their 23 shots on goal as Miguel Merentiel missed a great chance to level the score late on.
LA EXPLOSIΓN π€―π₯ pic.twitter.com/OZZvEX6w2C
β Newellβs Old Boys (@Newells) February 11, 2022
VΓ©lez Sarsfield defeated AtlΓ©tico Aldosivi 2-0 with goals from Luca Orellano and Lucas Janson. Aldosivi defender NicolΓ‘s Valentini was sent off late on. VΓ©lez also had two goals ruled out for offside, one being a spectacular overhead-kick from Janson.
Estudiantes took a 2-0 lead over Independiente as Mauro Boselli, Agustin Rogil both scored headed goals. El Rojo then got one back in controversial circumstances as AndrΓ¨s Roaβs corner which JoaquΓn Laso scored from did not appear to be on the quadrant when it was taken. However, Los Pincharratas managed to cling on to their lead to claim all 3 points.