Because the Professional Soccer League has become a tournament of opportunity for almost everyone

Except in the cases of Leonel Vangioni and Cristian Lema, any other player who had moved away from the pawn would not have been recognized. Javier Sanguinetti – with no record at Newell and without a long career as head coach – arrived in Rosario and took charge of a squad without great figures. La Lepra had just finished sixth in Zone 1 of the League Cup, with 23 points. nothing got me thinking this start that – except for that goal of the Governing Council at the hour, the night of the Rosary, for the 2-2 – seemed like an idyll: four wins, one draw, unbeaten and only leaders, only one goal against (detail relevant for a team that gives priority to zero in the bow). He is still the leader, but is accompanied by Gimnasia la Plata, both with 14 points. In this tournament which, it seems, opens the door of possibility to almost everyone.

Sanguinetti succeeded with what he had and with what he could and armed a solid team, which amazes, which gives nothing away and who found in the midfielder or left winger Ramiro Sordo (21 years old, with just 13 games played before this tournament; from the lowest) his figure and scorer (he has four goals and leads the standings with three other players, Colman , Cristaldo and Bareiro). Before Patronato he scored the second goal for his team, which then – already in addition – remained and left two points on the way.

Gimnasia, also undefeated, is another surprise: he finished fifth in zone A of the League Cup (he did not reach the quarter-finals by one point). With Néstor Gorosito – who in 2019 managed to make Tigre world champion – as a coach he found stability and, little by little, added audacity (especially when playing in El Bosque). He is the same as Newell, after four wins and two draws. He serves a goal difference to Rosario’s team.

In La Plata, especially in that triperate geography like El Mondongo, there are not a few who believe in The hand of God. Not only for the walls that show Diego Maradona made Lupo but because since his arrival at the club, with almost guaranteed relegation. Everything started to change. Courage, faith, enthusiasm. Diego’s team – which, damned fate, could not see him saved – avoided setbacks following the restructuring of Argentine football. But he has since started to improve and his current average is pure tranquility (he has 16 teams behind and two relegated). Diego must be happy in his corner of paradise that many of the guys he has given space to today are arguing upstairs.

Mathematics, are you there?

Before starting the League, Mathematics offered its point of view on the possibilities of competing teams. Through the site developed by the Institute of Informatics of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) dependent on the Faculty of Exact Sciences: 301060. The number is a tribute to Diego Maradona; your date of birth, “Christmas of football”as stated by Guillermo Durán, dean of the university.

Remember: the Calculus Institute It is an internationally awarded entity in the context of UBA, the number one university in Ibero-America for the eighth consecutive year according to the ranking drawn up by the English consultant QS Quacquarelli Symonds.

However, in this sport of the dynamics of the unthinkable (this opinion told by Dante Panzeri), this tournament seems to be determined by two things: surprises and possibilities for almost everyoneat least in these first six dates.

Data associated with mathematics: Newell’s and Gymnastics didn’t even reach a 1% chance of becoming champion. Nor are his three closest pursuers (Platense, Huracán and Banfield). The ranking of candidates for the title, at the beginning, was as follows:

1) River 48.84%

Two) Mouth 30.06%

3) Velez 4.63%

4) Stroke 3.80%

5) Students 3.68%

Then there were: Defense and Justice (2.31%) and there were two others that exceeded 1%, Argentinos (1.08%) and Talleres (1.06%).

The platoon of suitors

Before mentioning the 16 teams separated by four points (between 11 and 7), it should be clarified that Eight of the teams also compete in the decisive phase of the two International Cups: six in the Libertadores (Estudiantes, Talleres, Colón Boca, Vélez and River) and two in the South American (Unión and Lanús).It is a conditioning, of course. Because most of the teams participate in the local tournament with one team forklift or mix and save your gala team for the international arena. And this is paid for with points. The current table displays it again.

Behind Newell’s (14) and Gimnasia (14), Another novelty is: Platense (12), after the victory on Monday evening, in Avellaneda, 3-1 against Independiente. Then they continue two teams with 11 points: Hurricane and Banfield. None of the three as the leaders do not compete internationally.

with ten appear Racing, Godoy Cruz, Atlético Tucumán, Platense, Argentinos and Unión. And they, depending on the case, have to deal with other fronts: the low average, admission to the Cups, the South American Cup, the Argentine Cup … Pure dizziness. with nine there is Boca, whose clear priority is the Libertadores. with eight, River, Sarmiento and Board of Trustees. The former wants to eliminate Vélez from the top South American competition this week. The next two want to get out of the way. And Red wants to find his way.

The platoon is completed with seven, San Lorenzo, Independiente, Arsenal, Central Córdoba and Estudiantes. Regardless of the odds, leagues for this handful of teams seem like a pipe dream. But in this Argentine football, amazed at every step, anything can be possible.