Less than two months remain in an Argentine Apertura Championship that has been anything but normal. Some great soccer has been overshadowed as matches were postponed or suspended due to escalating crowd violence all around the country.
Thankfully, those issues haven’t taken away from an exciting title race, and they haven’t masked the biggest surprise: Estudiantes de La Plata.
It’s no shock that powerhouse clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors are challenging for the title again, but this less lucrative club is attracting most of the attention. Estudiantes’ glory days were 40 years ago, but this season could prove to be a turn in the right direction for Los Pincharratas. Estudiantes is following up an exciting run to the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores with a bold statement to the rest of the Argentine league.
The club has become the most dangerous side in the Apertura, and won its fifth straight match last weekend. Estudiantes is currently tied with Boca for second place with 25 points, two behind league leader River. After its 3-1 victory over Godoy Cruz last Sunday, manager Diego Simeone admitted his team was starting to look like a contender for the title. If that were to happen, it would be the club’s first since 1983.
Some of the credit should go to Simeone. The former Argentina great is a renowned motivator, and although he’s relatively inexperienced as a manager, he has succeeded in assembling an effective side that mainly focuses on solidarity in the defense and pressure in the attack.
But much of Estudiantes’ success is due to the return of a former star: Juan Sebastián Verón. “La Brujita” had been plying his trade over the past decade at the top clubs in the world, including Inter Milan, Lazio and Manchester United. But after several seasons that many categorized as busts, Verón decided to return to the club that saw him first turn professional 12 years ago.
Verón immediately settled into the side’s starting XI and took charge as team captain, linking up well with midfielders José Sosa, Diego Galván and Rodrigo Braña. Estudiantes is now built around the 31-year-old Verón, who embraces much of the responsibility as he looks to help the club continue to grow.
Not only has Verón answered his critics, he’s also starting to attract the attention of his country once again. New Argentina head coach Alfio Basile is reportedly interested in recalling Verón to the national team, particularly in the absence of retired playmaker Juan Román Riquelme. Verón has proven that he is one of Argentina’s most intelligent playmakers, and if he continues his stellar play he’ll probably be rewarded with a call-up.
Last Sunday, Verón put on another man-of-the-match performance at Godoy Cruz. Not only did he pull the strings in the midfield, but he was also involved in Estudiantes’ first two goals. Performances like these have been frequent, as Verón’s influence in the attack has helped Estudiantes score 13 goals in its last three games and rank fourth in the league in goals scored behind Independiente, Boca and River.
Verón will forever be remembered by the Pincharratas faithful for marshalling one of the most memorable victories of the season earlier this month. Estudiantes trounced city rival Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata 7-0 in the most lopsided in the history of the Clásico. Verón helped set up two goals in that rout, including one off a free kick. The team has fed off the victory, and its play has led fans to believe their team is ready for a title run.
But Verón, who has become the symbol of the club, insists that in order for Estudiantes to accomplish this it must keep its feet on the ground. The club “has a very difficult league schedule to look ahead to,” he says.
The business part of the season is approaching. Estudiantes must still face Vélez Sársfield, River Plate, Racing Club and Arsenal — all difficult opponents who have similar sites on challenging for the championship.
Verón has been taking much of the credit for Estudiantes’ resurgence, but in order for the team to make a run in the home stretch, it will have to count on some of its other players who have been in outstanding form. Mariano Pavone has proven to be one of the most prolific strikers in the competition with seven goals, while his attacking partner José Luis Calderón has added five (including a hat trick against Gimnasia).
For the club to maintain its position, it must continue to keep finding the back of the net and picking up points in the standings, especially since River and Boca look like they’ll finish the season strong.
It’s a difficult challenge for Estudiantes, but it’s fitting that in order to solidify its resurgence, the team will have to count on the career renaissance of Verón, an outstanding player who has reaffirmed his position as one of the club’s all-time greats.
Gregory Sica
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