Liga Profesional: Four Teams Tied at the Top as River Struggle For Form

Fecha 8 of the Liga Professional saw Boca Juniors finally win a game, River Plate denied a win in the last minute. Newell’s Old Boys and Racing drew which means that four teams are now level on points at the top of the league in Godoy Cruz, Newell’s, Atlético Tucumán and Argentines Juniors.

Boca get much-needed victory

After not winning a game since Fecha 4 Boca Juniors beat Talleres Cordoba 1-0 to end a dreadful run of form.

The match did not start well for Los Xeneizes as Dario Benedetto’s penalty in the 7th minute cannoned back off the crossbar.

However, Boca were awarded another spot-kick in the 78th minute as Rafael Perez brought down Benedetto in the box. Perez was sent off and this time Marcos Rojo stepped up to take the penalty.

🔚 ¡Ganó #Boca!

⚽️ Boca 1 – Talleres 0

☑️ Gol: Marcos Rojo.#DaleBoca 🔵🟡🔵#TorneoBinance pic.twitter.com/Jawlf3NYGw

— Boca Juniors (@BocaJrsOficial) July 17, 2022

Rojo slotted it into the bottom corner to win the game for Boca. Hugo Ibarra’s side needed this victory and they were the deserved winners with 62% possession and 14 shots to Talleres’ 8.

River denied late on

River Plate came up against the team that dumped them out of the Copa Libertadores in Velez Sarsfield and once again it was Velez who had the last laugh.

River started the game well and took the lead in the 7th minute with Lucas Beltran tapping in a Santiago Simon cross.

However, Velez were level in the 20th minute as Walter Bou sent Franco Armani the wrong way and passed his penalty into an empty net.

10 minutes later, Los Millonarios were back in front when Beltran turned provider flicking his header onto Diego Nicolas De La Cruz Arcosa who volleyed the ball from just outside the box into the bottom corner.

It took Velez until the 94th minute to get their equaliser when Nicolas Garayalde’s cross found Abiel Osorio who slotted the ball into the net to claim a 2-2 draw.

Marcelo Gallardo’s side would be disappointed to concede so late on but Velez deserved the equaliser as they had more possession with 59% and more shots on target with 6 to River’s 3.

Top of the league shared

Godoy Cruz, Newell’s Old Boys, Atlético Tucumán and Argentinos Juniors are all level at the top of the division on 16 points.

Newell’s Old Boys

Newell’s had been the league leaders but could only draw 0-0 with Racing in a match they were fortunate not to lose given they only had 31% possession and just 6 shots to La Academia’s 10.

🎶🎵 “… Porque tenemo’ aguante, aguante de verdad…” 🎶🎵

📸 Foto Baires pic.twitter.com/jSNXAaOScw

— Racing Club (@RacingClub) July 18, 2022

Godoy Cruz

Godoy Cruz came from behind to beat Lanus 2-1 thanks to a goal from Salomon Rodriguez and an unbelievable volleyed winner from Martin Ojeda. Rodriguez flicked the ball onto Ojeda who hit it first time from outside the box into the net.

Despite having less possession with 39% Godoy Cruz managed 21 shots on target to Lanus’ 7 which shows that having more of the ball is not always the key to victory.

Atletico Tucuman

Atletico Tucuman had a 1-0 victory over Aldosivi. The winning goal came when Augusto Lotti’s lobbed-through ball was latched onto by Ramiro Ruiz Rodriguez made a fun run and slotted the ball into the net.

This match again saw the victors not have the majority of possession as Tucuman had just 43% but when it came to shots they had 18 to Aldosivi’s 7.

Argentinos

Argentinos Juniors scored two late goals to secure a 3-1 victory over Barracas Central. Argentinos took the lead early through a Fausto Vera penalty.

Their lead did not last long as Neri Bandiera equalised after a mistake from Argentinos’ keeper Federico Lanzillotta.

But in the 82nd minute, they retook the lead when Vera headed in a cross from Gabriel Carabajal. In added time the victory was sealed when Jose Herrera got on the end of a flick-on by Thiago Nuss and fired the ball into the top corner.

#AAAJ VAAAMOSSS LA PATERNAL 😎

Ganóooooo Argentinos en Floresta con dos goles del 5️⃣ y del pibe “Tucu” Herrera 🤩#ElSemilleroDelMundo está con todo 👊 #VamosTodosUnidos, más unidos que nunca pic.twitter.com/kdCn6anKMH

— Argentinos Juniors (@AAAJoficial) July 16, 2022

Argentinos had more possession with 62%. However, they had fewer shots on target with 5 to Barracas’ 7. Argentines were just the more clinical side.

These four teams are surprising league leaders but given the poor form of Boca and River recently we may end up seeing a surprise champion come to the end of the season.