The ball rolled again this weekend and not only were the teams renewed;
but also, the illusions.
From the first to the last club in the Professional League, of course.
However, the greatest demand, the weight of responsibility - due to history, fundamentally, and in some cases due to resources - falls on
the big five of Argentina
.
Only
Independiente
could claim victory.
Racing
and
San Lorenzo
lost at their own homes.
River
, on board a draw, also disappointed at home.
And
Boca
did not go from zero to zero with Platense.
The bulletin of the first date found postponements for four of the giants.
The
Rojo
led by
Carlos Tevez
, at least, brought three points for Avellaneda as a result of his victory against the namesake from Mendoza.
However, he left some items to improve.
In this context, other medium-sized teams with enormous objectives stood out:
Estudiantes
and
Huracán
, to name two cases, which delivered good signals.
Also,
Godoy Cruz
,
Lanús
,
Newell's
and
Gimnasia
.
The level, in general, was far from being engaging
.
The high temperatures may have had an influence, as these are the first post-preseason preparations, as too many precautions are taken because more thought is given to one's own goal than to that of others and because the players are getting to know each other.
Without going any further, there were
16 goals in 14 games
and the biggest difference was 2 to 0 in three of them.
Now, facing the series that is coming in this League Cup that offers little rest in a tight calendar because on the horizon are three other tournaments (Libertadores, Sudamericana and Copa Argentina) and the Copa América in June, there is little time to rest on laurels or lament defeats.
Under this situation,
what were the high points and what were the deficits that the big teams left in this first step?
River: with losses and deficiencies
PHOTO MARCELO CARROLL - CLARIN
The departures of Enzo Pérez and Nicolás De La Cruz generated a big problem in the gestation zone and although the championship is underway, the only reinforcement was Nicolás Fonseca, a 25-year-old midfielder who started against Argentinos, but left unknowns, more beyond the statistical assessment that Martín Demichelis made at the press conference.
River lacks explosion.
Even though Miguel Borja has the upper hand, he does not finish engaging the offensive circuit due to some unevenness by Nacho Fernández and Esequiel Barco.
But the main drawback is in the middle, where he is split, a weakness that the La Paternal team took advantage of.
Questioned even though he has won two titles in 2023, the coach is looking to find the best version of his River, which was seen at the beginning of his cycle.
With other interpreters, it is clear.
And with more space for the youth players: Franco Mastantuono (16 years old) and Agustín Ruberto (18) debuted on Sunday.
“We have to adjust details this year to grow internationally, we are very confident and we will surely achieve it,” said Demichelis.
He knows that the priority objective is the Libertadores.
Boca: in search of its identity
Photo MARCELO CARROLL - CLARIN
Very little was seen from the hand of Diego Martínez in the duel against Platense.
The coach's idea, which I hope to capture in Godoy Cruz, Tigre and Huracán, is a neat start, strong sides and a mobile midfield.
However, the team recently improved with the entry of Kevin Zenón, one of the additions, who gave a leap in quality to the midfielder's area that had been showing very slow movements.
So, it had more dynamics.
And that is what Boca needs to acquire.
The coach talks about “tilts” to generate numerical superiority in different sectors of the playing field.
It wasn't until the second half that we saw something of what Martínez intended, with Frank Fabra and Luis Advíncula being bolder to go all the way.
The arrival of Lautaro Blanco, who underwent a medical examination yesterday, may give him a plus in that sense.
A positive point was the work of Cristian Lema, who arrived to reinforce the defense and quickly had to make his debut due to the injury of Marcos Rojo and the absence of Nicolás Valentini, affected by the Under 23 National Team.
“I look at the bank and find solutions.
Cavani, Benedetto, Zenón, Janson came in... Highly ranked players.
When we are complete, we will be even stronger,” was the message of optimism that the coach gave.
Racing: the great disappointment
Photo Juano Tesone - CLARIN
There was great excitement in Avellaneda because of the dozen players he brought in.
And above all, by an in-house technician.
However, Gustavo Costas' team left a lot to be desired.
From the tactical to the attitudinal.
Disjointed, lost, with little development and physical and defensive fragility, he fell to Unión and left concerns.
The coach knows that he will have to improve quickly against Tigre, tomorrow in the Cilindro.
When Maximiliano Salas and Adrián Martínez entered, an evolution was noticed.
It is the first date, of course, and there is room to shuffle and give again.
“I don't like making excuses, it was played badly and it was lost well,” said Costas.
Independent: only victory
Photo: TELAM
The line of five that Tevez usually sets up limited the creativity of a team that changed when Santiago Toloza entered, a hitmaker, in the second half against Independiente Rivadavia.
The coach highlighted, above all, “character.”
The reinforcements who debuted (Jhonny Quiñónez, Gabriel Ávalos, Adrián Sporle and Ignacio Maestro Puch) have yet to show their virtues.
Ricardo Bochini, red idol, said that the team needs a “change of pace.”
And he is right.
Independiente seeks to be dynamic, but has veteran players for the pressure that is needed: the team that started on Friday has an average age of 31 years.
San Lorenzo: can't find the game
Photo: Juano Tesone - CLARIN
Ruben Darío Insua performed a miracle: from fighting for permanence he went on to qualify the team for the Copa Libertadores.
However, it was difficult for him to give greater fluidity and volume of play to a team that is usually orderly and intense, but has no creativity and depends a lot on the firepower of its forwards.
The line of five seems immovable and was one of their greatest strengths, but they changed the names.
From the goalkeeper (Altamirano by Batalla) to the center backs.
The flying full-backs come up (Giay and Braida), but in the middle Eric Remedi has to assert himself, who arrived from Banfield and started on the bench.
“We need to add quantity and quality of work.
It is essential to be able to kick the goal”, was the
Gallego
's self-criticism .
“We lost energy in the second half,” he added.
In short, what happens to everyone.
Time is short, results rule and the greats still have a lot to show.