The Argentine Apertura is likely to go down in history for its indiscretions: corruption, match-fixing allegations, intimidation and widespread crowd violence. And perhaps rightly so. This season has seen some of the most chaotic off-the-field news in league history.
But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. With one weekend of matches remaining, all these issues have taken a backseat to what has turned out to be a fantastic finish. Only three points separate the competition’s two most dominant clubs, Boca Juniors and Estudiantes de La Plata. Both teams have experienced marvelous seasons that have helped draw in the crowds despite all the problems plaguing the league.
While Boca has been typically outstanding throughout most of the season, the big surprise has been the fighting spirit of Estudiantes. The club is becoming a role model for less-privileged Argentine clubs: Although they have a limited budget and only brought in one big name during the offseason (Juan Sebastián Verón), Estudiantes have played every match as if it were their last.
Diego Simeone, who has gone on to better the work of last season’s manager, Jorge Burruchaga, credits his team’s success to its work ethic. Even though his side may fall short of the championship, he only speaks words of praise for his troops.
“The boys work tirelessly in every sector of the field,” says Simeone. “The entire squad puts in their all every time, and this is clearly evident in our matches, we do our best to put on a spectacle for the fans and will fight with Boca all the way.”
Last Sunday, fans were treated to excitement of the highest level as both contenders were the protagonists in what turned out to be a thrilling turn of events. It was the round that attracted the most attention of the season — and this time with no relation to scandal — as Boca failed to wrap up what would be a record third successive league championship.
Most had anticipated Boca’s match with Belgrano de Córdoba to be a walkover. Ricardo Lavolpe‘s outfit was coming off a 4-1 demolition of Colón de Santa Fe the previous week in what was by far their most comprehensive performance since the former Mexico manager took charge of the club midway through the season.
Regardless of what happened with Estudiantes — four points back entering their match with Argentinos Juniors — Boca knew a victory would have been enough to give them the designation as the best team in the country. It was no wonder that its fans were in a festive mood on arrival at the Olímpico. But it wasn’t to be, as Lavolpe’s side put on its most disappointing display this season, playing some dreadful soccer and succumbing to a narrow but deserved 1-0 defeat.
At that very moment, Estudiantes had miraculously turned around a 1-0 halftime deficit with two late goals, including a powerful Verón strike with two minutes remaining on the clock. Had Estudiantes held on, a win would have put them just one point behind Boca, setting up a thrilling final weekend.
But Simeone’s side couldn’t keep its nerve, conceding a devastating injury-time equalizer from Uruguayan striker Gonzalo Choy that dented its title aspirations and put an end to their 10-match winning streak. To rub further salt in Estudiantes’ wounds, Choy had played a large share of his career at crosstown rivals Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata — a club which, rumor had it, let Boca defeat it earlier in the competition so the Xeneizes would benefit from a substantial advantage over its La Plata rivals.
The result must have been a huge sigh of relief for Lavolpe, especially after he joked that, if his side ended up in second place, he’d be hanged — which, given the notoriously passionate nature of Boca’s fans, might not have been too much of an exaggeration. “The pressure at Boca is far greater than what I experienced while in charge of the Mexican national team,” he admitted.
Still, a draw against Lanús on Sunday in its final league match will be enough to guarantee Boca the title, an achievement that will give Lavolpe some much needed breathing room. On the other end, Simeone’s Estudiantes need nothing less than a miracle. Trailing Boca by three points, they must defeat Arsenal and hope that Boca loses. A long shot for sure, but should that happen, it would set up a dramatic showdown between both clubs that would be played at a neutral venue in the next few weeks to decide the championship.
A playoff of that nature would be fully justified. Many have speculated that Boca has been involved in match-fixing, and even if the club is innocent, it’s a perfect way for Boca to clear its name and prove once and for all that it’s the best club in Argentina. On the other side, Estudiantes may feel that they deserve this last opportunity for all their sacrifice this season, even though the possibilities are bleak.
Argentine soccer has experienced its fair share of problems over the last few months, but fans can at least take pride in the efforts of the two main contenders this season. Boca and Estudiantes have done their utmost to reflect on the strong points of Argentine soccer. No matter the outcome of Sunday’s games, both clubs have proved that playing efficient, entertaining soccer is the cure for what ails the game.
Gregory Sica
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