Episode 261: Reviewing Sampaoli’s start for Argentina, and gearing up for the title run-in

In the two hundred and sixty-first episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam and Andrés look back on Jorge Sampaoli’s first two matches as Argentina manager, which ended in two victories, seven goals scored and none conceded – although one was a lot closer as a contest than the other. We also cast our eyes forwards towards his competitive debut at the end of August, where they’ll be no margin for error. As well as this, we’ve a title run-in to consider, with this weekend’s matches followed almost immediately by a round in midweek; by the time we next record, Boca Juniors could very well be champions.

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In round 27, Mystic Sam got 3/15. This week, Mystic Chris takes him on …
Mystic Sam
Colón v San Lorenzo
San Martín v Temperley
Huracán v Unión
Talleres v Gimnasia
Banfield v Central
Arsenal v Godoy Cruz
Estudiantes v Belgrano
Atl. Rafaela v Quilmes
Aldosivi v Boca
Vélez v Sarmiento
Newell’s v Lanús
Patronato v Tigre
Independiente v Olimpo
DyJ v Atl. Tucumán
River v Racing

Mystic Chris
Colón v San Lorenzo
San Martín v Temperley
Huracán v Unión
Talleres v Gimnasia
Banfield v Central
Arsenal v Godoy Cruz
Estudiantes v Belgrano
Atl. Rafaela v Quilmes
Aldosivi v Boca
Vélez v Sarmiento
Newell’s v Lanús
Patronato v Tigre
Independiente v Olimpo
DyJ v Atl. Tucumán
River v Racing

Episode 260: Previewing Argentina v Brazil, and Boca Juniors put one hand on the league trophy

The two hundred and sixtieth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés looking back over a weekend which saw River Plate lose ground in potentially decisive fashion to Boca Juniors, whose win over Independiente – combined with River’s defeat to San Lorenzo – sent them four points clear with just three matches remaining. It was also an interesting weekend for the relegation battle, and we look over the key results there. On Friday, Jorge Sampaoli’s reign as Argentina manager begins in earnest with a friendly in Australia against Brazil, and we also preview that.

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Episode 259: The top two falter, relegation edges closer for some, and more

The two hundred and fifty-ninth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Andrés discuss a fine clásico win for Racing against ten-man San Lorenzo and a victory for Talleres over a controversially under-strength Atlético Tucumán. The big stories, though, were dropped points for both Boca Juniors and River Plate, who drew away to Huracán and at home to Rosario Central respectively. Was Huracán’s late penalty controversial? (Erm, no.) Should River be kicking themselves? (Perhaps.) And are Arsenal de Sarandí and Sarmiento both going down? (Yes, surely.)

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Mystic Sam’s predictions (in last week’s head-to-head, Mystic Liam beat Mystic Chris, 6-3)
Sarmiento v Defensa y Justicia
Godoy Cruz v Atl. Rafaela
Tigre v Vélez Sarsfield
Central v Colón
Temperley v Talleres
Unión v Newell’s
Lanús v Estudiantes
Gimnasia v Banfield
San Lorenzo v River
Belgrano v Arsenal
Olimpo v Huracán
Atl. Tucumán v San Martín
Boca v Independiente
Quilmes v Patronato
Racing v Aldosivi

Episode 258: Two runners left in the title race, and the relegation battle hots up

The two hundred and fifty-eighth episode of Hand Of Pod comes after a weekend in which the relegation battle became significantly more heated, with most of the sides in or near the drop zone winning (in some cases significantly against expectations). Sam, English Dan and Andrés consider the weekend’s key moments, and also look at a title race which is increasingly looking like a straight sprint between leaders Boca Juniors and second placed River Plate. We also have a roundup of all the Copa Libertadores groups, which come to an end this week, and in a HOP first, a head-to-head in this week’s mystical predictions!

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Last week, Mystic Sam got 6/15. This week, we have two guest predictors!

Mystic Liam’s predictions
Aldosivi v Independiente
Colón v Gimnasia
Banfield v Temperley
Newell’s v Olimpo
Huracán v Boca
San Martín v Sarmiento
Racing v San Lorenzo
Defensa y Justicia v Tigre
Arsenal v Lanús
Talleres v Atlético Tucumán
River v Central
Atlético de Rafaela v Belgrano
Patronato v Godoy Cruz
Estudiantes v Unión
Vélez v Quilmes

Mystic Chris’s predictions
Aldosivi v Independiente
Colón v Gimnasia
Banfield v Temperley
Newell’s v Olimpo
Huracán v Boca
San Martín v Sarmiento
Racing v San Lorenzo
Defensa y Justicia v Tigre
Arsenal v Lanús
Talleres v Atlético Tucumán
River v Central
Atlético de Rafaela v Belgrano
Patronato v Godoy Cruz
Estudiantes v Unión
Vélez v Quilmes

Episode 257: River beat Boca to open up the title race, and lots more clásico action

The two hundred and fifty-seventh episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Andrés gather to look back on a dramatic weekend of clásico action in which the biggest headline was River Plate putting the title right up for grabs (possibly for themselves) by defeating Boca Juniors 3-1 in La Bombonera in the superclásico. Boca’s league lead is three points over San Lorenzo, but would be just a point were River to win their game in hand. San Lorenzo themselves got yet another clásico win against Huracán – because of course they did, come on – and Newell’s Old Boys missed the chance to join in the fun at the top, losing 3-1 at home to Rosario Central. The relegation race is hotting up as well, and some Copa Libertadores groups are coming to a conclusion – shortly after we recorded, San Lorenzo secured top spot in Group 4 in highly dramatic circumstances.

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Mystic Sam’s twenty-fifth round predictions (last week Mystic Simon got 7/15)
Atlético Tucumán v Banfield
Belgrano v Patronato
Lanús v Atlético de Rafaela
Sarmiento v Talleres
Boca v Newell’s
Tigre v San Martín
Unión v Arsenal
Independiente v Huracán
Godoy Cruz v Vélez
San Lorenzo v Aldosivi
Temperley v Colón
Quilmes v Defensa y Justicia
Central v Racing
Olimpo v Estudiantes
Gimnasia v River

Episode 256: Previewing a weekend of clásicos which might blow the title race wide open

Episode 256 of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés and Dan to look back on a weekend during which Newell’s Old Boys failed to take advantage of yet more dropped points from league leaders Boca Juniors. More to the point, we’re looking forward to a weekend full of clásicos in the Argentine Primera which could see Boca take a huge step towards the title – or, especially if a River Plate win in La Bombonera is combined with a win for Newell’s in the Rosario derby, could breath new life into the title race just ahead of the run-in.

The first attempt at uploading this episode was met with disaster due to a fault in the file – it was only online for a minute or two so hopefully subscription services won’t have picked it up, but if you find the sound on your file cuts out after about 26 minutes, download again from here or our Soundcloud page – the version that’s now online is the full show. Sorry.

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Mystic Simon’s twenty-fourth round predictions (last week Mystic Chris got 4/14, with Arsenal v Olimpo called off at half time due to a waterlogged pitch)
San Martín v Godoy Cruz
Atl. Rafaela v Atl. Tucumán
Estudiantes v Gimnasia
Huracán v San Lorenzo
Banfield v Lanús
Talleres v Belgrano
Olimpo v Aldosivi
Newell’s v Central
Independiente v Racing
Boca v River
Colón v Unión
Patronato v Sarmiento
Arsenal v Temperley
Defensa y Justicia v Quilmes
Vélez v Tigre

Episode 255: No change at the top, but the relegation battle hots up

The two hundred and fifty-fifth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés meet to discuss a weekend during which there was no change at the very top of the Primera: Boca Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys both won, meaning Boca remain three points clear at the top. There was some re-ordering of the sides just below, though – partly thanks to yet another home draw for Independiente – and a dramatic shaking up of the relegation dogfight after shock wins for Atlético de Rafaela and Quilmes. We also look again at the Copa Libertadores and developments which have the potential to affect the immediate future of the Argentine national team, as well as explaining another new rumour about the next Primera championship. Oh, and HOP listeners within reach of London will want to listen out for a discount code to get 10% off tickets to the upcoming London Festival of Football Writing!

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Mystic Chris’s twenty-third round predictions (last week Mystic Andrés got 6/14)
San Martín v Quilmes
Talleres v Tigre
Patronato v Lanús
Racing v Gimnasia
Atlético de Rafaela v Unión
Estudiantes v Boca
River v Temperley
Aldosivi v Huracán
Arsenal v Olimpo
Defensa y Justicia v Godoy Cruz
San Lorenzo v Central
Colón v Atlético Tucumán
Newell’s v Independiente
Banfield v Sarmiento
Vélez v Belgrano