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 224: Lanús close in, Godoy Cruz win again and Argentina’s Copa América shortlist

The two hundred and twenty-fourth episode of Hand Of Pod is short but sweet with plenty of food for thought. Lanús and Godoy Cruz continue to look like the two favourites for the title playoff – indeed, Lanús could confirm their place with two matches remaining depending on results this weekend – whilst last year’s bigger sides all had underwhelming weekends due to Copa Libertadores commitments (Huracán went out on Tuesday night; River Plate and Racing followed them shortly after this episode was recorded). As well as this, we run the rule over Gerardo Martin’s 40-man Copa América squad shortlist, answer listeners’ questions, and predict what results will be like this weekend with the help of a die, to see whether it really is just pot luck…

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The Mystic Die’s predictions for round 14 (last week Mystic Gav got 2/15)
Unión – Argentinos
Quilmes – Godoy Cruz
Newell’s – Defensa y Justicia
San Martín – Temperley
Vélez – Colón
San Lorenzo – River
Racing – Estudiantes
Arsenal – Central
Lanús – Aldosivi
Atlético Tucumán – Belgrano
Boca – Huracán
Atlético de Rafaela – Tigre
Gimnasia – Independiente
Olimpo – Banfield
Sarmiento v Patronato

Episode 222: Copa Libertadores group stage round-up and much more

The two hundred and twenty-second episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Andrés discuss the Copa Libertadores group stage, which has finished (or had almost finished, when we recorded) with five of Argentina’s six clubs qualifying for the last sixteen – San Lorenzo are the odd one out. Boca Juniors’ transformation under Guillermo Barros Schelotto continues apace; they’ve now scored ten goals in their last two matches, which isn’t great news for their next opponents. Those next opponents are River Plate, of course, because this weekend is clásico weekend across the league, and Phil Carney is our Mystic Guest Predictor. All this and much more…

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Mystic Phil’s twelfth round predictions (last week Mystic Jose got 4/15; matches in red are clásicos)
Atlético de Rafaela v Patronato
Vélez v Argentinos
Olimpo v Aldosivi
Unión v Colón
Arsenal v Defensa y Justicia
San Lorenzo v Huracán
Godoy Cruz v San Martín
Lanús v Banfield
Gimnasia v Estudiantes
Newell’s v Central
Boca v River
Racing v Independiente
Belgrano v Atlético Tucumán
Tigre v Sarmiento
Quilmes v Temperley

Episode 221: Racing’s inconsistencies, River’s ongoing problems and some Libertadores mathematics

The two hundred and twenty-first episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés and English Dan to look back on another goal-packed weekend of Primera action which saw Vélez Sarsfield hand Rosario Central their first home defeat in nearly a year and a half, Lanús get a well-deserved win over Banfield in the clásico, and Huracán claim victory by the odd goal in seven over San Martín. Racing are having consistency problems, and travel to La Paz next week in need of a result against Bolívar (a one-goal defeat or better) to qualify for the Copa Libertadores knockout stage. English Dan is bullish about their chances. River Plate also continue to have issues, but in spite of a 2-1 defeat away to São Paulo on Tuesday will still almost definitely be in the last sixteen, whilst Boca are already there, Central sealed their place just after we recorded, and San Lorenzo are out.

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