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 223: A very dull round of derbies, Copa Libertadores knockout rounds begin & more

The two hundred and twenty-third episode of Hand Of Pod was recorded by Sam and Andrés in a rather cold living room, because it’s chilly in Buenos Aires at present and no gas in Sam’s building means no central heating in Sam’s building. The dedication we show to this podcast… anyway, we discuss a weekend of clásico action in which not very much happened, apart from one or two appalling fouls and some decent goals (but not many of them at all). Other topics covered are the AFA’s need for new TV rights and national team kit deals (they need money from anyone who’ll give it to them, so if you’ve ever wanted to sponsor a major international football team…), and the chances Argentine clubs have in the Copa Libertadores.

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Mystic La Liga Gav’s predictions for round 13 (last week Mystic Phil got 6/15)
Aldosivi v Unión
Estudiantes v Newell’s
Colón v Olimpo
Patronato v Atlético de Rafaela
Independiente v San Lorenzo
Belgrano v Quilmes
River v Vélez
Godoy Cruz v Arsenal
Huracán v Racing
Defensa y Justicia v San Martín
Argentinos v Boca
Central v Gimnasia
Tigre v Lanús
Temperley v Atlético Tucumán
Banfield v Sarmiento

Episode 185: The fallout from Boca Juniors’ Copa Libertadores disqualification and more

The hundred and eighty-fifth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Peter talking about the only thing anyone in Argentine football has been discussing in the last few days – the pepper spray-and-acid attack by the Boca Juniors barra brava (or a ‘dissident faction’ thereof) on River Plate’s players which saw the second half of the Copa Libertadores quarter-final superclásico called off, and Boca disqualified from this year’s competition. The political ramifications at the club and for Argentine Security Secretary Sergio Berni (who claimed the security operation had been a roaring success), Boca’s protestations and appeals, whether CONMEBOL were too lenient with their punishment and more are all on the table. The tragic death of Emanuel Ortega which caused the calling-off of last weekend’s league fixtures means Mystic Sam remains almost unchanged in his predictions this time, though there has been one adjustment compared to last week’s readings; he now thinks Estudiantes can win away to Atlético de Rafaela. HOP is sponsored by Argentina Independent, a fine English-language source of news from Argentina and across Latin America.

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