Latest news with #Superclásico
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Secret talks: reports claim Boca have already picked their new manager
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. At this time, the great anticipation at Boca Juniors involves the attentive wait for the appointment of the team's next head coach, who will officially debut in mid-June at the 2025 Club World Cup. According to the latest updates from journalists close to the club from La Ribera, the name of the coach has already been chosen, and the coach in question has also said "Yes." However, the club and the management led by Juan Román Riquelme have decided to keep the negotiations "secret" and not yet reveal the chosen coach. ¡El DT está elegido! ¡El SI, del técnico, ya está!Negociación recontra SECRETA. TIC TAC — Leandro Aguilera (@Tato_Aguilera) May 22, 2025 The flurry of names has been intense and constant since the departure of Fernando Gago was confirmed several weeks ago, after losing in the Superclásico at the Monumental. "Lo viejo funciona, Juan" — Diego Monroig (@MonroigDiego) May 22, 2025 Several names have already been ruled out for different reasons, while now the main candidates are two: Gustavo Quinteros and Miguel Ángel Russo. The latter, currently under contract with San Lorenzo and in the midst of the final stages of the Argentine Apertura tournament with his team in the semifinals, will have to wait for the outcome of this competition to accept a proposal from the Xeneize. This is why there is mainly speculation about his name, hence the secrecy of these negotiations. 📸 ALEJANDRO PAGNI - AFP or licensors
The Guardian
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Chilavert, choripán and children: a night with Argentina's champions
W hen imagining a football match in Buenos Aires many fans visualise La Bombonera shuddering to its foundations by the jumping mass of blue and yellow Boca Juniors supporters or the majestic Estadio Monumental bedecked in streams of ticker tape when hosting Argentina's victory in the World Cup final in 1978. Last Sunday, the Monumental was at full capacity as 85,000 fans watched River Plate beat Boca 2-1 in a tense Superclásico. However, a few weeks ago my experience of going to a football match in Buenos Aires was very different indeed. As I discovered when planning my trip to Buenos Aires, gaining admission to one of the Argentinian capital's largest clubs, such as Boca or River Plate, is by no means straightforward. Both clubs have significant numbers of members , with more than 340,000 each (only Real Madrid have more). These socios have priority when it comes to buying tickets so there is limited availability. One of the only ways to buy tickets in advance is through a third party, who charge $150 upwards. Kick-off times are only announced a week or so in advance, which makes life even more complicated. Fortunately, there are plenty of other clubs in Buenos Aires, with more than 20 in the greater metropolitan area, eight of which are in the Primera División this season. I plumped for the reigning champions, Vélez Sarsfield, a club that is very proud of its local fanbase. One of their regular chants is focused on how they are not like Boca or River Plate, who attract swathes of international tourists and a fair degree of scorn from Vélez fans. The club motto – 'The first to be a great club' – also reinforces their traditions. The club is proud of its homegrown talent, with World Cup winner Nicolás Otamendi one of their best known academy products. Otamendi joined Vélez when he was seven and progressed to the first team before moving to Porto. The famous Paraguayan goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert played for Vélez Sarsfield in the 1990s. Chilavert scored around 40 goals for the club, a remarkable record that was the result of him not only taking penalties but also being adept at scoring direct free-kicks. José Luis Chilavert in his heyday. Photograph: Sergio Moraes/Reuters Through a combination of factors, the match against Sarmiento was a low-key affair, with the 45,000-capacity stadium barely half full. It was scheduled at 9.15pm on a Monday night; Vélez had been in poor form; and this was very much a mid-table clash, with Sarmiento not the most glamorous of opponents. Despite the relatively sparse crowd, there were phalanxes of heavily armed police in attendance as the spectators filed through a variety of security checks before entering the José Amalfitani Stadium. Like most Argentinian grounds, there is terracing at both ends and it felt a little odd to be standing at a top-flight match for the first time in decades. We attended the game with local fan Daniel, who supports Boca and had to wear a long-sleeved shirt to hide his tattoos. 'At another ground a few months ago I was identified by one of the home fans as a Boca supporter and was told to be very careful and warned that I should never return.' He also explained that he no longer attends matches at La Bombonera as, during one of the many economic crises that Argentinians have suffered in the last decade, he briefly stopped paying his monthly membership and was excluded, to be placed on a very long waiting list to return. Vélez are based in the suburb of Liniers, which is a 30-minute bus ride from the city centre. Daniel took us to a fairly shabby social club just outside the stadium for a pre-match beer and choripán (chorizo sausage in a bap). There is no alcohol allowed inside the ground because of crowd trouble in the past. There is also a total ban on away fans, which leads to a slightly surreal atmosphere inside the stadium, with none of the usual ebb and flow between opposing supporters that generates so much of the energy and spark in English football. We stood next to the ultras who were positioned under the streamers that stretched from the top of the terracing all the way down to the pitchside fences. The support was steadfast, chanting almost continuously throughout the game even though Vélez did not create a great deal to get excited about. The standard of football was akin to the Championship in England, with plenty of effort and the odd dash of skill, but not much finesse and a distinct lack of goalmouth action. It was a surprise to see so many young children in attendance, especially considering the game finished after 11pm on a weekday. There were a fair few precariously perched in their prams on the steep steps of the dark blue terracing. Some of the older children were held up by parents, with their faces right up against the perimeter fence. Vélez's stadium is known as El Fortín ( the Small Fort) but this season the ramparts have been breached so many times that the fans seemed a little subdued, almost resigned to their fate. When they won the title last season they were undefeated at home; this season they have played eight home matches, won two of them and scored just two goals in 720 minutes of football. Vélez Sarsfield players celebrate after winning the Primera División title last year. Photograph: Cristina Sille/Reuters The game was drifting towards a goalless draw before the Sarmiento substitute Franco Frías scored from close range with 20 minutes remaining. It was greeted by near silence apart from the whistling of the ultras combined with shouts of delight from the Sarmiento players who were joined in their celebrations on the pitch by all the substitutes in the absence of any away fans. Vélez were handed a lifeline in added time when they were awarded a penalty for a handball. There followed an interminable delay for the spot-kick to be taken as Sarmiento players protested and the referee spent ages checking everything was ready. While waiting for the referee's whistle, the veteran striker Michael Santos lost patience and tucked the ball into the corner. To howls of derision he was ordered to retake it and, almost inevitably, his second effort was not so successful. He blasted it over the bar and the host's 1-0 loss was rubber-stamped, extending their lamentable home record. In keeping with the stadium's name, and maybe as an alternative bouncy castle for the massed ranks of children attending, an inflatable fort was used as a tunnel to usher the players off the pitch. As the fans drifted disconsolately away into the night, the fort was symbolically deflated along with any faint hopes of retaining their title. Where was Chilavert when they needed him? This is an article by Richard Foster, the writer behind The Football Mine and the host of the podcast It Started With A Kick.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 Boca Juniors line-up confirmed against Tigre
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. The 'Xeneize' visit the 'Matador' at the José Dellagiovanna Stadium for Matchday 16 of the 2025 Apertura Tournament in the Argentine Professional Football League (LPF). Advertisement After the setback in the Superclásico and the departure of Fernando Gago, Boca Juniors take the field in the final matchday of the regular phase of the 2025 Apertura Tournament with the goal of securing all three points to finish at the top of Zone A in the Professional Football League (LPF). 'Xeneize' have accumulated 32 points and are currently second to Argentinos Juniors by just one point, so they absolutely need to win this afternoon to reclaim the lead heading into the round of 16. Boca Juniors' starting eleven Mariano Herrón, once again appointed as interim coach, is fielding his best players. Tigre, meanwhile, have also secured qualification for the round of 16 but are aiming for a home victory that would allow them to climb a few spots, avoid a tougher matchup, and benefit from home advantage.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚑 Bad news for Boca Juniors ahead of the Superclásico
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. Fernando Gago faces setbacks ahead of Sunday's match against River Plate for Matchday 15 of the 2025 Opening Tournament of the Professional Football League (LPF). Four days before the Argentine Superclásico, Boca Juniors has some problems assembling the starting lineup. Fernando Gago has to make decisions regarding some players who are experiencing physical issues. Advertisement The coach of the 'Xeneize' is most concerned that Tomás Belmonte, who had a high probability of being a starter, was absent from Wednesday's morning training session. Belmonte was unable to train due to a feverish condition, although he presented himself at the sports city to be examined by the club's doctors and then retired to his home. Gago hopes for his favorable evolution in the coming days. Another piece of bad news for Boca Juniors is that Fernando Gago has practically ruled out Milton Giménez and Ander Herrera for the match against River. Giménez suffered a sprain in his right ankle against Belgrano, was unable to finish the match, and they don't want to risk him. Meanwhile, Herrera hasn't played since March 30 against Newell's, when he entered in the second half and suffered a muscle injury five minutes later. According to Federico Cristofanelli in Infobae, the Basque midfielder will miss what would have been his first Superclásico. Advertisement On the other hand, Edinson Cavani and Kevin Zenón have worked with caution on Thursday, but everything indicates that they will be part of the call-up to visit the Estadio Mâs Monumental this Sunday, April 27. Boca Juniors' possible starting lineup would be with Agustín Marchesín; Luis Advíncula, Rodrigo Battaglia, Marcos Rojo, Lautaro Blanco; Tomás Belmonte, Milton Delgado, Kevin Zenón; Carlos Palacios; Edinson Cavani, and Miguel Merentiel. Boca Juniors is already classified for the round of 16 of the 2025 Opening Tournament. Since their elimination in the CONMEBOL Libertadores, they have won six of their last seven matches and are the sole leaders of Zone A.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
😓 Tensions rise at Boca: Rojo, Cavani, Palacios and Gago in the spotlight
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. No one is safe at Boca Juniors, after the defeat against River Plate at the Monumental. Advertisement The Superclásico was too important, a key objective for Xeneize, in a season where they are not playing in the Copa Libertadores and are forced to fight for the local title. Although Fernando Gago's team managed to recover from the blow of elimination against Alianza Lima in the Libertadores preliminary phase, leading Zone A of the Apertura and securing their place in the defining key, this defeat once again sowed serious doubts about the entire season. Criticisms rain down on the referents and the coach In the midst of this heated climate, the Boca fans distributed harsh criticisms to the captains and main referents of the squad, as well as the coach. Advertisement But not only for losing the Superclásico, but also for statements or attitudes afterwards. Marcos Rojo was pointed out for his post-match statements: "We don't owe anything to the people" he said. For the Boca fans, very unfortunate statements after the fall at the Monumental, in a match where Boca showed very little, beyond some moments of the second half. Criticisms of Gago also focused on the defensive lineup he employed, after losing Edinson Cavani to a muscle injury and Milton Giménez to a sprained ankle. The coach decided to place Miguel Merentiel as the only striker, while lining up a line of five defenders. Advertisement But his post-match statements also caused anger: "I liked the second half, we took them to a low position. We had clear chances to tie it" said the coach, with a worrying lack of self-criticism for many. For his part, Cavani, as mentioned, did not even play the match, but also exposed himself, innocently, to a wave of criticism and widespread outrage over a post on his social media. The Uruguayan striker echoed a vaccination awareness campaign, a commendable initiative. But the responses were all from outraged Boca fans: "It's not the time". Finally, it is also worth mentioning the controversy generated with Carlos Palacios. He did not have a good game at the Monumental, like almost all of Boca, but beyond the criticisms for his football performance, this Monday it was learned that the player traveled to Chile and that was also a cause for unrest among the fans. Advertisement Gago gave the squad a free Monday and Palacios decided to travel to his country, as he had done on another occasion. That time, he had trouble returning and missed a practice, so afterwards, as punishment, he was left out of the match against Newell's, which Xeneize ended up losing. 📸 ALEJANDRO PAGNI - AFP or licensors
