The irregular start of the big five: why don’t River, Boca, Racing, San Lorenzo and Independiente take off?

Unstable, with difficulty finding a clear path, lots of bumpiness and not unbeaten. In just three dates, the greats are showing a rocky start in the Professional League. All have lost at least one date and there was one of the four who still hasn’t won. Although they boast the biggest budgets, especially Boca, River and Racing, and generate the highest expectations thanks to their rich history, they don’t finish taking off.

Why did none of them cut themselves and are they victims of irregularities? What are the main deficits that prevent them from convincing? What do they have to adjust? River and Independiente are going through new trials with Martín Demichelis and Leandro Stillitano. Boca, Racing and San Lorenzo kept their coaches. The questions for Hugo Ibarra are the same as last year. Fernando Gago does not seem to find the return. Rubén Darío Insua, in this context, is the one who seems to follow the same path even if he has nothing left. Playing well and maintaining performance is a big deal for everyone.

the mouth does not engage

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He was twice champion in 2022 (League Cup and Professional League), but he has never finished convincing from a strictly football point of view. And the last three finals lost (Copa d’Argentina with Patronato; Champions Trophy and International Super Cup, both against Racing) added to the crash with Talleres hit hard. Decidedly, he has won two of his last nine competitive matches. And he didn’t manage to prevail even in the summer friendlies.

The operation was always a debt. The team depends too much on their individuality, doesn’t have a good circuit of play and suffers from some disconnections in defense. Finally, Hugo Ibarra covers the children. Although Luca Langoni only needed 12 shots to score 8 goals, he runs from behind. The same It’s here Fernández, who has already shown he can be useful alongside Alan Varela. O Exequiel Zeballos.

And about the little monkeyThis Monday, news of a meniscus injury was released that will rule him out of court for another good time: He will have to have surgery on his left knee. Nicolás Orsini will also be unable to play against Platense due to a torn hamstring in his left leg.

There is no Darío Benedetto, who will serve his suspension this weekend, but the problem lies in preparation. In this article, Oscar Romero shines, but suffers from creative loneliness. Better surrounding Paraguay can be a good start. Pol Fernández and Juan Ramírez are not at an acceptable level. And the fans have already lost patience with the manager chosen by Román.

River in search of his style

He was loaded with pressure because of Demichelis’ words: “We are the best strengthened team.” And it’s true, flaunting the nickname, there have been millionaire investments. Nacho Fernández has been repatriated, international players such as Salomón Rondón and Enzo Díaz, one of the most sought-after players on the market, have also come to Núñez. What is missing is to mesh the pieces better.

Looking to print his style, River needs to be more direct and has an Achilles heel in the background due to the irregularity of its defenders, especially Marcelo Herrera and Enzo Díaz himself who were to play in the position of central scorer. The goals conceded against Belgrano and Argentinos are proof of that.

It all depends on the brain Nacho Fernández and needs more input from Miguel Borja and Pablo Solari. Sunday broke the mechanized pattern with the entry of Esequiel Barco. It can be a good alternative. And the 4-3-3 seems to be the design that suits him best. In this sense, he must evaluate the recovery of two soldiers: Nicolás De La Cruz and Paulo Díaz.

The racing and his headache

The largest capital of Gago’s cycle was the seal of his team. Racing showed itself with a large volume of play based on ball possession, triangulation, with flyers arriving in the area and strength. In this starting over, he’s lost some of that ferocity and added a problem that’s already starting to become a headache: recoil and defensive fragility. To the Academy They often come to him and expose him.

The reinforcements are not yet giving positive signals. Maxi Moralez shone in the finale in Abu Dhabi, but hasn’t yet managed to be the axis of the circuit in a midfield that hasn’t recovered much. Aníbal Moreno was missing, injured, Juan Nardoni was far from being the tightrope walker. Racing has much more playable steering wheels than trimming. And the central players and flanks are in danger. Paolo Guerrero needs more continuity. They disallowed a goal, but the first one he touched sent him inside.

“It’s time we need to feel like protagonists again. Win again and show again all the good we’ve already done,” said Gago after the draw against Tigre.

Shuffle and deploy independently

Stillitano talks about “assembling” the team with reinforcements. Eleven reinforcements arrived and as many left. And it’s costing you. He tried with Toto Pozzo, then with Nicolás Vallejo. Kevin López seems to have found a place thanks to the prospect of him a little later.

Independiente tries to be a balanced team, but the youth teams lack greater intensity and recovery. One case is chili Marquez, with an excellent start, but without good decisions in the final stretch of the field. The defense must stand up. With Sergio Barreto out with contractual problems and the injuries of Luciano Gómez and Edgar Elizalde, he still hasn’t found the best version of him.

San Lorenzo and its Rocca

Consciously incorporated. Insua brought in two Colombians, Rafa Pérez and Carlos Sánchez, and stuck with the idea. The team has the profile that allowed it to catch up with the South American when they had thought of adding to swell the average: sacrifice, order and commitment. It is intense, direct, it does not give luxuries because the generation of the game depends on the Cub Barrios and Jalil Elías, basically. Although they are at an even level, much more is supported by the dynamics of the rest.

And the team has one advantage: made the New Gasometer a fortress. They have won five consecutive home games, where they have lost just one of their last 16 dates, and have gone 500 minutes unbeaten.