Belgrano Fights to Maintain Undefeated Streak and Top Position in Zone B against Defensa y Justicia

The undefeated Córdoba player takes the stage to defend his status as the leader in Zone B of the Professional League Cup. With these details, Belgrano took the field this Monday night to play for the ninth date of the First Division competition. Of course, things are not simple, since the team led by Guillermo Farré has a visit to Defensa y Justicia, in Florencio Varela. The match is refereed by Fernando Rapallini and is televised by ESPN Premium.

The first half in Florencio Varela was with ups and downs, little collective play and a lot of not letting the rival think on the field. That’s why the 0-0 didn’t have too many chances to miss the scoreboard, since the home team generated little and the visitor nothing.

For Defense, Barinaga’s back was fertile ground and there he decided to attack as many times as possible. Togni often beat the winger who could not neutralize the attacker. But beyond having a couple of opportunities, one blocked by Losada on Solari and the other by the winger who after beating “al Colo” finished off wide, he did not spend much more on offense.

For the visit it was more about pushing and seeing how progress could be made in the field. Marín was the shadow of the last games and Ulises Sánchez appeared in the final stretch of the stage and it was the Río Segundo midfielder who finished off wide.

Passerini fought alone and at times with too much ground to cover, which simplified the task of the local centre-backs. When the “9” went to play in the Halcón area, it complicated and even created some danger.

End of stage without much to enjoy.

The chronic

The playing field looks very fast. It was watered minutes before the start of the game. As a result, Lencioni overtook an opponent and received a yellow card 50 seconds into the match. The conditions of the playing field make it difficult for Celeste, who has a hard time getting on his feet. Defense seeks to pressure and complicate things with balls behind the visiting defense.

El Halcón had the first clear shot at 19, when Solari shot in the area, but was met with a great response from Losada, who sent it to the corner.

As the minutes passed, Celeste began to become more friendly with the ball and to escape the siege of the home. After 30 minutes, the game was tied.

Defensa and Belgrano, in a duel for the ninth round of the League Cup. (Belgrano Press)

However, at 33, Defensa had another dangerous approach. Barinaga lost the ball on the right and Togni entered the area. He finished off, but Losada contained it in two halves.

At 36, the first clear one for Belgrano. Between Diarte and Lencioni they advanced from the left and the ball reached Sánchez, who surprised in that sector. Ulysses entered the area and his shot went near the far post. The Pirate begins to advance on the field with greater clarity.

At 42, Defensa arrived again. A change of front by Cardona left Togni entering the area and gaining position from Barinaga. But he finished wide before Losada left.

At 46, with more drive than clarity, Belgrano finished close to the rival goal. A Barinaga cross was headed by Passerini, but the ball fell to the goalkeeper.

THE COMPLEMENT

Belgrano had the first of the second half. After several attempts, the last one was from Diarte, from outside the area, but the man from Tucumán threw it over the crossbar.

The formations

The previous

The Pirate arrives at a great moment, especially emotionally. He comes from beating Boca 4-3, in Alberdi, in what many consider the best match of this tournament. Celeste, which arrives with three wins and five draws, left with a flood of goals (it had not scored in three of its last four previous appearances against Xeneize), but also received several (three, when it came from four matches with the fence undefeated).

As always, there are details to work on and polish. But what Alberdi is clear about is that Defense and Justice is one of those games in which mistakes are costly. El Halcón is one of the best Argentine soccer teams of the last decade. It has teams without big names, but they always respond from a collective perspective and put Florencio Varela’s team among the protagonists in the first division competition and with international competition.

Belgrano has 14 points and lives with pride these hours that have him at the top of everyone in Zone B. But today he will have to revalidate that condition against Defensa y Justicia, which is third (12 points) and has the objective of being among the four first to qualify for the next stage of the League Cup.

But that is not all. El Halcón is already among the semifinalists of the Argentine Cup for the first time in its history, since during the week it eliminated Chaco For Ever, in Santa Fe. After equaling 1-1 in regulation time, it won 7-6 on penalties . That is, Defense is always the protagonist.

The “debt”, as a visitor

Belgrano’s great campaign allows him to be at the top in his area. El Pirata has scored the most goals in Zone B, with 12 goals, but only two of them were scored as visitors. And both were scored against San Lorenzo, on the second date. In the other three games in which they were a visitor, the Alberdi neighborhood team tied without goals (with Godoy Cruz, with Sarmiento and with Talleres).

Until now, Belgrano could not win away from Gigante de Alberdi, in the Professional League Cup. Although he is undefeated, since he did not lose. But against Defense one of the objectives is to be able to achieve the three points and continue adding. Belgrano wants to be among the four best in his area and is excited to make great progress in this Professional League Cup.

Furthermore, continuing to add represents for Pirata feeding their dream of reaching one of the places that qualify for the Copa Sudamericana. Today, the Celeste is tenth in the annual table, the last step for that passage. Achieving international status in his first year back to the top division of Argentine soccer is another desire of Alberdi.

And a detail that is not minor at all: Belgrano never won at the Norberto “Tito” Tomaghello stadium in Florencio Varela.

2023-10-16 23:37:44
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