Episode 280: the top two draw; Scocco’s solo brilliance, and Lautaro Martínez’s hat trick

Episode 280 of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés discuss an entertaining round of Superliga action which saw the gap at the top remain at six points, thanks to second place San Lorenzo’s 1-1 draw with league leaders Boca Juniors. Talleres went third with a fortuitous win over Temperley, and we also look at headline-grabbing solo performances for River Plate and Racing – namely Ignacio Scocco’s brace, including a spectacular second, for River, and Lautaro Martínez’s first senior hat trick for Racing.

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This week, Mystic Lee takes on Mystic Sam.

Mystic Lee
Unión v Arsenal
Defensa y Justicia v Chacarita
Newell’s v Colón
Gimnasia v Estudiantes
Vélez v Patronato
Olimpo v Racing
Talleres v Banfield
Godoy Cruz v Belgrano
Boca v Temperley
Lanús v River
Tigre v Argentinos
Atl. Tucumán v San Martín
Huracán v Central

Mystic Sam
Unión v Arsenal
Defensa y Justicia v Chacarita
Newell’s v Colón
Gimnasia v Estudiantes
Vélez v Patronato
Olimpo v Racing
Talleres v Banfield
Godoy Cruz v Belgrano
Boca v Temperley
Lanús v River
Tigre v Argentinos
Atl. Tucumán v San Martín
Huracán v Central

Episode 246: Rounding up the last weekend of 2016 action

The two hundred and forty-sixth episode of Hand Of Pod is the last one of the year. Sam, Andrés and English Dan round up the last week of Primera action this year, which included two good results for River Plate (who claimed the Copa Argentina last week), another big win for Boca Juniors, who thus end the year at the top of the table, more dropped points for Estudiantes and plenty of other talking points, including a number of emotional farewells to players and various managers either resigning or being fired. As well as all this, there’s also time to take a brief look at the current situation regarding TV rights for next year – which is currently up in the air. You’ll be hearing from us again at the end of the summer break – if you’re celebrating over the next week or two, enjoy!

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Episode 245: reviewing the Superclásico and preparing for the end of the year

The two hundred and forty-fifth episode of Hand Of Pod is the penultimate one of 2016, and Sam and Andrés meet to discuss Boca Juniors’ 4-2 away win over River Plate in what – even as River sympathisers – we cant deny was a tremendously entertaining Superclásico. Carlos Tevez was superb, and as well as praising his performance we also look at the reports he might be off to China soon. For River, there’s a chance for some compensation in the form of the Copa Argentina final against Rosario Central, which is played on the evening this podcast goes live, and could see one – or both – of the managers, Marcelo Gallardo for River and Eduardo Coudet for Central, leave their club. All this, and there’s still one more round of league action to preview, thanks to the one-week delay to the season kicking off back in August. As a result of that, we’ll be back next week with an unusually festive edition.

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

Episode 214: San Lorenzo and River still can’t defend, and are Boca back on track?

Episode 214 of Hand Of Pod is short but sweet, as Sam and Andrés take you through the last week in Argentine football. There are some entertaining matches to discuss, with San Lorenzo’s 3-2 win over Vélez Sarsfield and River Plate’s 3-3 draw away to Rosario Central the highlights – though Boca Juniors’ 4-1 win at home to Newell’s Old Boys is also a topic of conversation, and Colón’s unbeaten start to the campaign came spectacularly undone with a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Godoy Cruz in Mendoza. The clásico de Avellaneda was a desperately dull match until the last few minutes, so we don’t waste too much time talking about it. The Copa Libertadores group stage has begun, but until we’ve seen another few matches it’s a little early to comment on that yet.

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Mystic Roberto’s predictions (last week Liam Harrison got 5/14)
Newell’s v Unión
Banfield v Godoy Cruz
Estudiantes v Argentinos
Sarmiento v Quilmes
Defensa y Justicia v Aldosivi
Huracán v San Lorenzo
Patronato v Belgrano
Colón v Central
Atlético Tucumán v Atlético de Rafaela
Olimpo v Arsenal
Racing v Boca
San Martín v Lanús
Vélez v Gimnasia
Temperley v Tigre
River v Independiente

Episode 206: Tevez leads Boca to a domestic double, and what’s still to play for?

The two hundred and sixth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Fede convene to talk about what might be Argentina’s first proper domestic league-and-cup double (although given how young the Copa Argentina is, that’s not quite as historic as it sounds). Carlos Tevez ended up making the difference for a Boca side who got cross the line in the title race on Sunday by beating Tigre, and who owed a large debt of gratitude to an eyecatchingly bad refereeing (and linesmanning) performance in Wednesday night’s Copa Argentina final against Rosario Central. We discuss Boca’s merits and what they need to strengthen ahead of next year’s Copa Libertadores, and look forward to the upcoming final weekend of normal season league action, with a rundown of what’s at stake in each of the matches Mystic Sam predicts. HOP is sponsored by Argentina Independent, a fine English-language source of news from Argentina and across Latin America.

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Mystic Sam’s thirtieth round predictions (last week: 8/15)
Lanús v Sarmiento
Estudiantes v Unión
Chicago v Quilmes
San Martín v Arsenal
Defensa y Justicia v Godoy Cruz
Colón v Gimnasia
Temperley v Argentinos
Olimpo v Banfield
Independiente v Vélez
River v Newell’s
Huracán v Belgrano
Atl. Rafaela v San Lorenzo
Central v Boca
Tigre v Racing
Crucero del Norte v Aldosivi

Episode 203: Argentina aren’t much cop without Messi, and will the title be decided this weekend?

In the two hundred and third episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam is joined by Andrés, English Dan and Fran to look back on a disappointing start to Argentina’s World Cup qualifying campaign, in which without Lionel Messi to provide the inspiration they looked listless and took just one point from matches at home to Ecuador (a 2 -0 defeat) and away to Paraguay (0-0). Why was there no centre forward to call on when Sergio Agüero got injured? Is it worth continuing to call up Carlos Tevez? Is Javier Mascherano being used in the right role? These are just some of the questions we consider. After that, there’s the small matter of Boca Juniors possibly winning the league on Sunday night, when they face Racing, and the rest of a tasty-looking weekend of league action ahead. HOP is sponsored by Argentina Independent, a fine English-language source of news from Argentina and across Latin America.

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Mystic Sam’s twenty-eighth round predictions (from Argentina’s WCQs: 0/2)
Crucero del Norte v Independiente
Huracán v Sarmiento
Lanús v Vélez
Estudiantes v Quilmes
San Martín v Belgrano
Colón v Arsenal
Atl. Rafaela v Godoy Cruz
Chicago v Newell’s
Olimpo v San Lorenzo
Central v Argentinos
Tigre v Banfield
Racing v Boca
River v Aldosivi
Defensa y Justicia v Unión
Temperley v Gimnasia

Episode 200: Tevez makes headlines as Boca stay top, Martino’s first WCQ Argentina squad and more

Hand Of Pod is 200 episodes old, and this week Sam is joined by Peter and Andrés for a champagne celebration in a bumper episode. We look back over a weekend of Primera action which saw Carlos Tevez make more bad headlines (for breaking an opponent’s leg) than good (for scoring twice) during Boca Juniors’ 3-1 win over Argentinos Juniors which saw them remain top of the table. There were a few belting goals as well, and there’s praise for the fine form of Independiente, Quilmes and others. We examine the run-ins of the title candidates – of whom we’ve decided there are three, with both leaders Boca and current second-placed San Lorenzo still yet to play third-placed Rosario Central, and also look at Gerardo Martino’s first World Cup qualifying Argentina squad, which among more predictable calls includes Paulo Dybala’s first call-up and Gonzalo Higuaín’s exclusion. All this and plenty of listeners’ questions! Thanks for your support over our first 200 episodes, and here’s to plenty more… HOP is sponsored by Argentina Independent, a fine English-language source of news from Argentina and across Latin America.

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Mystic Sam’s twenty-sixth round predictions (last week: 9/15)
Olimpo v Godoy Cruz
Atlético de Rafaela v Unión
Colón v Belgrano
Racing v Argentinos
Crucero del Norte v River
Tigre v San Lorenzo
Chicago v Aldosivi
Boca v Banfield
Defensa y Justicia v Quilmes
Central v Gimnasia
Lanús v Independiente
Huracán v Vélez
San Martín v Sarmiento
Temperley v Arsenal
Estudiantes v Newell’s

Episode 191: River Plate reach the Copa Libertadores final, Boca stay top of the league and more

The hundred and ninety-first episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés in a good mood after River Plate’s qualification for the final of the Copa Libertadores for the first time in 19 years. A 1-1 draw with Guaraní in Asunción, with Marcelo Gallardo signings Tabaré Viudez and Lucas Alario combining for the crucial goal, proved decisive and next week River will face Tigres of Mexico in the first leg (we didn’t know this when we recorded). As well as River in the Copa, there’s also a full weekend of Argentine league action to look back on, including River reserves’ 5-1 tonking of Atlético de Rafaela, and wins for San Lorenzo and Boca Juniors (on Carlos Tevez’s return to La Bombonera) which mean it’s still Boca-San Lorenzo-River in a 1-2-3 at the top of the league table. Andrés also has a preview of this weekend’s biggest league match, the clásico rosarino between Newell’s Old Boys and Rosario Central. HOP is sponsored by Argentina Independent, a fine English-language source of news from Argentina and across Latin America.

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Mystic Sam’s eighteenth round predictions (last week: 7/15)
Aldosivi v Temperley
Gimnasia v Crucero del Norte
Sarmiento v Tigre
Unión v Banfield
Independiente v Atlético de Rafaela
Vélez v Olimpo
Huracán v Estudiantes
Newell’s v Central
Quilmes v Racing
Godoy Cruz v San Lorenzo
River reserves v Colón
Lanús v Defensa y Justicia
Belgrano v Boca
Chicago v San Martín
Arsenal v Argentinos

Episode 190: Boca top the table ahead of Tevez’s return & River take a first leg Libertadores lead

The hundred-and-nintieth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés, Fede and long-time HOP listener but first-time HOP contributor Johnny to look back over an eventful week. Boca Juniors leapfrogged San Lorenzo into top spot in the league, getting a gritty 1-0 win away to Sarmiento after both San Lorenzo and River Plate had been held to draws earlier in the weekend. For River, at least, there was the consolation of a fine performance and 2-0 win on Tuesday night in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores semi-final against Guaraní of Paraguay – the second leg will be next Tuesday in Asunción. On Monday, as well as a Vélez Sarsfield v Tigre match which saw a dramatic finish, there was Carlos Tevez’s unveiling at La Bombonera, to which around 40,000 people showed up – Boca fans Fede and Johnny give us their thoughts on Carlitos’ return and what it means for the team. As well as all this, we have a look at a few managerial debutants, including Gabriel Heinze, who Sam believes is the first graduate of both the Ferguson and Bielsa schools of football management (i.e. he played under both of them). HOP is sponsored by Argentina Independent, a fine English-language source of news from Argentina and across Latin America.

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Mystic Sam’s seventeenth round predictions (last week: 9/15)
San Lorenzo v Arsenal
Banfield v Belgrano
Atlético de Rafaela v River
Carlos Tevez FC Boca v Quilmes
Defensa y Justicia v Nueva Chicago
Colón v Lanús
Olimpo v Aldosivi
Racing v Sarmiento
Crucero del Norte v Estudiantes
Temperley v Independiente
Tigre v Newell’s
Central v Vélez
San Martín v Huracán
Gimnasia v Godoy Cruz
Argentinos v Unión

Episode 189: reviewing Argentina’s Copa América campaign and previewing the return of the Primera

Hand Of Pod returns as the Argentine Primera gears up to enter the second half of 2015. Sam and Andrés are here to review Argentina’s Copa América campaign, which saw a second major final in a year, but a second disappointment at the last hurdle. Where do the national team go from here, which players matched up to expectations, who fell short and which younger stars should perhaps be given a chance to shake things up in the coming months? As well as this we look at Carlos Tevez’s return to Boca Juniors and Javier Saviola’s and Lucho González’s to River Plate, consider the other main moves in the transfer market, and answer a few questions from our wonderful listeners, as ever. HOP is sponsored by Argentina Independent, a fine English-language source of news from Argentina and across Latin America.

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Mystic Sam’s sixteenth round predictions
Arsenal v Gimnasia
Estudiantes v San Martín
Lanús v Atlético de Rafaela
Quilmes v Banfield
Belgrano v Argentinos
Huracán v Defensa y Justicia
River v Temperley
Unión v San Lorenzo
Sarmiento v Boca
Godoy Cruz v Crucero del Norte
Independiente v Olimpo
Newell’s v Racing
Chicago v Colón
Aldosivi v Central
Vélez v Tigre