Less than a month after the completion of the Diego Maradona Cup that crowned Boca Juniors, the runner-up Banfield will be in charge of opening the new Professional League Cup First Division, when this Friday from 7.15pm (TNT Sports) welcome the renewed Racing, with Juan Antonio Pizzi on the bench, by the first date of Zone 1. They will also make their presentation in Santiago del Estero the local Central Córdoba and Colón de Santa Fe (21.30, Fox Sports Premium). At the same time, but for Zone 2 and televising of TNT Sports, Unión de Santa Fe will host Atlético Tucumán, with the debut of Omar De Felippe as a coach.
With the ascents of Platense and Sarmiento, the brand new League Cup will be animated by 26 teams divided into two groups of 13. In each one they will face everyone against everyone (during 12 dates) and it will also contemplate interzonal crossings (classics and pairings) between the two teams that are free. In this way, there will be Boca-River on the 5th date, Racing-Independent (9ª), San Lorenzo-Hurricane (4ª), Rosario Central-Newell’s Old Boys (12ª), Students of La Plata-Gimnasia La Plata (10ª), Colón de Santa Fe-Unión de Santa Fe (13ª) y Banfield-Lanús (6ª).
After the first part of the tournament (which counts as a national cup), the four leaders of each zone will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face first with fourths and second with third, in the field of the best located and a single party. The semifinals and the final -planned for May 30, before the start of the Copa América Argentina / Colombia that will be played between June and July- they will also have that modality, although in neutral venues. For the Qualifiers heading to the Qatar World Cup 2022, in the tight schedule in March there will be a single weekend without action.
On the other hand, as with the Maradona Cup, there will be no teams that lose the category after the first semester, but averages will begin to rule with the objective of implementing reductions again in 2022.
So things, the brand new Professional League Cup will lift the blinds in the South of the suburbs, with the crossing between Banfield and Racing, two that could give fight for the title. In fact, Javier Sanguinetti’s team, in his first experience as a coach, has just finished runner-up in the previous tournament in which they lost on penalties (5-3) the final against Boca, after having drawn 1-1 during the 90 regulation minutes.
The drill did not bring reinforcements and suffered three casualties sensitive: striker Agustin Fontana (separated from the campus by order of the leadership after there was no agreement for the renewal of his contract, which expires in June); midfielder Jorge Rodriguez (transferred to Estudiantes de La Plata) Y the defender Claudio Bravo (sold to Portland Timbers of the United States).
After the departure of Diego Milito as sports director, a position now held by Rubén Capria, at the Academy there will be the debut of Pizzi replacing Sebastián Beccacece. In addition to Walter Montoya, Augusto Solari and Matías Ibáñez, It will no longer have Lisandro López among its ranks, the maximum reference of Racing in recent years – who also emigrated to MLS football, in his case to Atlanta United-, so that it will be Darius Cvitanich who will take over Licha’s legacy, in addition to commanding the attack together with Maximiliano Cuadra, back in Avellaneda after his last visit to Cobreloa in Chile.
So far, Pizzi has two reinforcements (Ezequiel Schelotto and Maximiliano Lovera)In the next few hours, forward Tomás Chancalay will sign and the club’s board maintains the negotiation with Newell’s Old Boys for Aníbal Moreno.
The truth was that to put together his first official eleven, the DT of the Academy had several problems: Fabricio Domínguez with coronavirus; Lorenzo Melgarejo later rejoined to work due to problems with his flight from Paraguay; and has injured Marcelo Díaz, Benjamín Garré and Eugenio Mena.
Regardless of his participation in the League Cup, The Academy will play the Argentine Super Cup against River – prior to its debut in the Copa Libertadores – and the Argentine Cup.
Also for Zone 1, Central Córdoba and Colón will face each other this Friday in Santiago del Estero, with the intention of improving the lackluster version they showed in the previous tournament.
With a remarkable first phase in the Maradona Cup, Atlético Tucumán -with the debut of De Felippe as DT replacing Ricardo Zielinski, now in Estudiantes de La Plata- visit for his part to Union at the 15 de Abril stadium in the capital of Santa Fe, by Zone 2.
The first day will continue This saturday with Aldosivi-Godoy Cruz and Talleres de Córdoba-Patronato (both at 5:10 p.m.), Vélez Sarsfield-Newell’s Old Boys (19.20) Y San Lorenzo-Arsenal (21.30).
While on Sunday will have the clashes between Defense and Justice-Hurricane (17.10), Boca Juniors-Gimnasia La Plata (19.20) Y Students of La Plata-River Plate (21.30).
The date will be completed Monday with the duels between Rosario Central-Argentinos Juniors (19.15) and Independiente-Lanús (21.30).
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