Battle of Transfer Decimated Sides.

By: Mauro | August 6th, 2008

Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors vs. Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro (Estadio Diego Armando Maradona, “La Paternal,” Buenos Aires, Argentina)

LIVE @ 4pm on Fox Sports Español. Gamecast here. Online TV here.

A San Lorenzo side with a few key changes and some internal turmoil involving their new coach Miguel Angel Russo and the club’s directors, is gearing up to visit a squad they are familiar with, Argentinos Juniors. But Argentinos have had their share of transfers as well. Tonight they try to get a leg up on each other ahead of the the second leg in two weeks.

San Lorenzo’s new coach, Russo, is coming off coaching Boca Juniors to their 6th Copa Libertadores in 2007. He comes in to replace exiting coach and current América of Mexico coach Ramón Díaz.

You may have also heard that playmaking midfielder, Andrés D’Alessandro was also transferred away from the club and will appear in this competition with Brazilian side Inter of Porto Alegre. But that’s not the only key change.

Left side defender, Diego Placente has also left the club. He will be playing alongside his once teammate at River Plate, Fernando Cavenaghi at Bordeaux in France’s Ligue 1.

Despite those changes, San Lorenzo still have a very competitive side with players like Agustín Orión in goal, defender Jonathan Botinelli and striker Gonzalo Bergessio still very much part of the squad.

The internal turmoil comes from the departure of D’Alessandro and Placente with such a short time before the beginning of the Argentine Apertura (starts 8/8) and their participation in the Copa Sudamericana. Coach Russo came out in the press to ask the directors to not transfer players involved in the pre-season training and those that were a part of the coach’s overall strategic plan. Not an unreasonable request.

Argentinos also lost a few key players. Notably, 6′ 6″ striker Alejandro Delorte, who along with teammate and midfielder Roberto Battión will be playing with Aris Salonica in the Greek Super League. Delorte came out last season like gangbusters either winning balls in the air to nod down to oncoming teammates or taking the opportunities himself.

Add Uruguayan midfielder Alvaro Pereira and defender Pablo Barzola who are off to CFR Cluj in Romania and Caen in France respectively, and you’ve got an Argentinos side who have had a few holes to plug up.

However they did pick Rodrigo “El Rengo” Diáz from Colon, and he should pick up some playmaking duties with that talented left foot. BTW, he’s got my vote for the best nickname in Argentina.

So what we’ll see are two squads trying to feel each other out tonight and whoever gives up the space will have to stay on their toes to make sure they keep their score sheets blank.

Bottom Line: While San Lorenzo will be short on the playmaking duties due to DAlessandro’s absence but still have the basic core of last season’s squad together. Whereas, while Argentinos ended last season on a high note qualifying for this cup, their form has shown to be quite irregular overall.

My Pick: 1-1. Hard to see a 0-0 result in this one with Bergessio’s goal scoring prowess and returning player Pablo Barrientos helping set up the attack, but the home side counts for something in these matches and Argentinos get a goal on their home ground but fail to keep San Lorenzo from scoring.

Feel free to check the CONMEBOL website for results and information about upcoming matches and for those of you in need of a bracket to get your heads around the competition, get one here.