The preview of the Avellaneda classic: Tevez’s ‘gasolero’ Independiente finishes better than Costas’ ‘millionaire’ Racing

This Saturday, Avellaneda will split in two again to receive in capital of football a new edition of one of the the most exciting and spicy classics of Argentine football. The two teams protagonists of this story arrive very different realities at an institutional level. Contrary to more than 10 million dollars paid by Racing in the latest market to put together one of the most competitive teams locally, is the independent diesel who spent less than half of his neighbor but that at the hands of Carlos Tevez seems to have found a reliable starting team that will look to consolidate in this weekend’s big event at the Libertadores de América-Ricardo Enrique Bochini.

The red one arrives packaged. With two consecutive victories they will finish in the comparison more certainties than doubts at a football level. After a start with two away victories (against Independiente Rivadavia and Vélez) but without playing well in this League Cup, they lost at home against Gimnasia La Plata and drew against Huracán in two other gray performances.

Carlitos has changed a lot between each date. Of names and patterns. Nothing convinced him and the operation never occurred. Until he received Rosario Central, the latest champion, and he got the version he wanted. And there he remained. In addition to having deceived the previous match against Instituto, he repeated the same eleven last Sunday and the team confirmed its good performance by bringing another three points to Alta Córdoba.

What happened? In addition to finding the right players for a flexible tactical design that yields positive results, they say there was an intimate conversation between the Apaches and their team at Villa Domínico that proved to be a turning point. After that strong internal self-criticism that remained within the premises, the Devil found his intensity again and his position in the initial stages was decidedly different.

“That speech made us stronger and today we are more united than ever,” revealed Alex Luna, one of the new faces who earned a place in the starting lineup. For his part, Tevez said: “I see the team as more mentally prepared. I see them as calmer and more comfortable at a football level.”

With an archer like Rodrigo Reywhich has maintained an unbeaten record in five of the first six days of this tournament, Independiente is also growing thanks to the solvency of its last line of four defenders: Mauritius Island, Juan Fedorco, Joaquin Laso AND Damiano Perez. He is supported by the steadfastness of his central midfielder and his captain, Ivan Marcone. He is enthusiastic about his flyer partnerships: Luca González, Gabriele Neves, Federico Mancuello AND moon. And wait for the goals of Gabriele Avalosthe sacrificed nine who runs, plays and presses.

These eleven are the players who have placed their trust in Tevez since their performances and for whom Rojo seems to arrive at the Avellaneda classic better than his all-time rival, who rules in history, at least from the sensations he left at the last appointment in which the Racing fell back several positions in the defeat against Godoy Cruz at Cilindro.

“We know that classic is totally different from everything else. I experienced it for many years as a player and I know that as a coach the classics are totally different, nothing changes if you do well or badly in the previous match.”Carlos Tevez prefers caution.

What Apache is sure of is that its Independiente, despite being very far from the big wallet of Vittorio Biancois building something that, if reaffirmed this Saturday, will begin to seriously excite all fans.

In total he spent no more than $4 million the club led by Néstor Grindetti in the summer booklet. Racing invested the entire sum only in Santiago Solari.

Independiente’s biggest signing was Avalos from Argentinos Juniors for 2 million in American currency. The Ecuadorian followed Johnny Quiñónez in a million. Purchased 75 percent of Juan Fedorco to 500 thousand dollars. And he added the expenses for the loans Alex Luna (200 thousand) e Ignacio Maestro Puch (300 thousand). Gabriele Neves came on loan for free and Adrian Spörle He joined as a free man.

He diesel de Avellaneda doesn’t look at the bills and clings to his beautiful present and his paternity to try to maintain a classic cornerstone.

Racing, looking for regularity with Costas

When he returned to the club, after almost two decades abroad, Gustavo Costas opened his eyes in amazement and smiled. “It’s another club”, he says he exclaimed. And it’s true. That Racing that had to ask permission from judge Enrique Gorostegui to be able to compete in the championship or that managed Academy that tried to survive under the management of Fernando De Tomaso, has nothing to do with this blue and white news. This former central defender, mascot of José’s team, champion of the 1988 Super Cup and great captain, can today enjoy the joys of a management in which he lacks nothing. And on the eve of the classic in the city that saw him born sixty years ago, the coach knows he has quantity and quality. After all, the millionaires of Avellaneda live in Mozart and Corbatta.

Far from the turbulent times of bankruptcy, and after ten years in which five titles were won, Racing has one of the best teams in Argentine football. Fights River and Boca. And although Víctor Blanco has always been labeled as a hands-off player when it comes to investing in players, no one can say that he hasn’t made a fortune. He spent 10 million dollars on placements and Costas himself assures “that there are no excuses” when it comes to competition.

In this sense his team has been irregular in these first six events. He went from a disappointing debut against Unión al Cilindro to a remarkable performance with Tigre. And a weak match against Estudiantes turned into a great sensation with eight goals in 72 hours and two victories against San Lorenzo and Newell’s, no less. But he fell to Godoy Cruz on his own court. With 10 points out of 18 contested, the victory doesn’t speak much of those chiaroscuros that generate some uncertainty.

However, there was a wink from the fan. Despite the defeat against the Mendoza team, the people greeted the players with encouragement. Perhaps due to the proximity of the Avellaneda derby. Perhaps because he saw the light in the games that preceded Saturday’s defeat. There is a distinctive characteristic of Racing de Costas: intensity is not negotiable. Nor offensive voracity.

In that team the style that combines ball possession and fast transitions begins to appear. Who can accumulate passes during a period of play, but also be vertical. The pressure and explosion of their attacking men are their greatest asset. Apart from this Adriano Martinez In the last game it didn’t go well, he showed wisdom by finishing with those five goals in six games.

Racing has firepower in the ‘Maravilla’, but they also have it Massimiliano Salas, Johan Carbonero (she is recovering from a tear), Santiago Solari, Juan Fernando Quintero, Agostino Urzi AND Baltasar Rodriguez. After River, who scored 12 goals, they are the most convincing team in the League Cup with 11 goals. Even after the red-banded giant, he is the one who has generated the most chances (28 against 18).

The full backs play decisively and with the three central line they have found greater solidity. Also, a good long pass from Agustín García Basso. Racing is the team that completed the most shots per game (28).

The deficit is at a standstill because Bruno Zuculini has grown in midfield, but when he receives the first blow, until now he has made it clear that it is difficult to recover. The two times he scored from the start (Unión and Godoy Cruz), he failed to equalise.

Of course, there is very little time to evaluate a process that aims for four tournaments this year: League Cup, South American Cup, Argentine Cup and Professional League.

In this context, Racing believes that the classic will constitute the platform for a definitive take-off towards those objectives set by the technical staff. There is blind faith for the Sabbath. Even if Quintero is unlikely to arrive, when the Colombian wasn’t playing, the team still flew (against Newell’s).

For Costas it is very special. Because he doesn’t allow his players to wear red, because he is a Racing fan and was born on the side of Puente Pueyrredón where the rivalry with Independiente is strongest. Because as a player, and in his first moments as a coach, his longtime rival was better. Today the Academy has an additional hierarchy, in addition to the fact that the opponents won against the Cordoba Institute.

“It’s a league of its own”Costa said. The phrase may be banal, but it is a great truth. And Racing wants to ratify it in hostile terrain.