The League Cup, as controversial as it is exciting: 5 dates to go and 17 teams have a chance

One word is perfect to describe Argentine football: competitiveness. The concept is used by coaches, players, managers, journalists and fans. And it is sufficient to review the position tables in the two areas of the League Cup to support the statement. One piece of data is definitive: 5 days after the end of the first round, there are 17 teams who dream of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

A clarification is also necessary: Just because local football is competitive doesn’t mean it’s good. Rather the exact opposite. Because the level that the League Cup offers is poor. There’s a reason we talk more about the referee’s decisions than the game itself. So far, in 2024, no team has managed to stand out from another, as had happened River in the first half of 2023. That is not a sensation but a reality anyone can beat anyone: There have been some in the Cup so far 46 home wins, 38 draws and 41 away wins. Therefore, the locals get the 3 points in 36.8% of the matches. In the Premier League, out of 268 matches played, 122 local victories were achieved, or 45.5%.

An encouraging statistic is this In the Cup, 258 goals were scored in 125 matches; That is, there are 2.06 celebrations per mourning. The goal average in England is close to 3.5 and the Bundesliga average is above 3.

Another piece of information provided by the League acts as a symptom: there are no attacking midfielders or attackers in the list of the 10 players who have made the most passes (Santiago Sosa, Agustín García Basso, Paulo Díaz, Alexis Soto, Agustín Cardozo, Gastón Lodico, Cristian Lema, Santiago Ascacibar, Santiago Ramos Mingo and Matías Catalán).

Godoy Cruz (19) is the team with the best numbers: they won 6, drew 1 and lost 1; He scored 11 goals and managed only 2. Tomba is leader in Zone B even if he has a pending duel with Saint Lawrence. In any case, the cast of Mendoza cannot relax because the fifth of the group, Union (15), add 4 points less. And below the giants appear Mouth (13) e Racing (14), who clash on Sunday at the Bombonera in a key duel. Does the loser have one foot out of the league?

Students (18), the guard, fell at home against in the last match Platense (10), who had only won one match. In addition, the cast led by Eduardo Domínguez will present the visiting replacements this afternoon Sarmiento de Junín because on Wednesday they will play the Super Cup final against River at the Mario Kempes in Córdoba.

They appear in third and fourth place Newell’s AND Lanus, with 16 units, two irregular teams. On Thursday evening, for example, Granate lost 1-0 at home Central Cordoba.

Defense and Justice (13) must put together a winning streak to get into contention. The same as San Lorenzo (8), which could return to 5 positions in the standings if it wins the pending match against Godoy Cruz (to be played on Wednesday 20th).

In zone A, river, Argentinians, Institute AND Independent Their sum amounts to 17 points. El Rojo receives Núñez’s team in a key duel. One point below is surprising Central Barracks (16), stalked Workshops (15) e Velez (fifteen). Six units appear behind the leaders Central rosary (11), who needs a good streak to join the aforementioned fight. The great thing for the team led by Miguel Russo is that on this date they play against Instituto.

“For me the most logical thing is a long tournament, because it gives you more time. The coaches could work more calmly. Now everything is nervous. The 28 teams? We have to think about it, otherwise it will become difficult for Boca and all the teams” The Argentinians they play well. Difficult to maintain continuity”She said Juan Roman Riquelme in the week. And he joined the debate Ruben Dario Insua: “As demonstrated, there are no easy rivals in Argentina. This is competitive football, there is a reason we are world champions. Only by watching the Argentina Cup do we realize this”.

The degree of complexity is high. There are no easy rivals. Physically, a Federal A team holds up on par with a Professional League team.

A cliché also applies to the current League Cup: anyone beats anyone. So, on the remaining dates, anything can happen.