Episode 443: Previewing the last weekend of the 2022 Liga Profesional

This week Sam, English Dan, Santi and Andrés gather to discuss three rounds of Liga Profesional action and preview Sunday’s two title-deciding Big Five clásicos – will Boca Juniors lift the trophy as expected, or can Independiente get a result in the Bombonera which could put Racing’s title hopes in their own hands as they host River Plate? We also look at the Independiente presidential elections of a couple of weeks ago with Santi’s wisdom, and discuss the news that Marcelo Gallardo is stepping down as River manager.

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Hand Of Pod · Episode 443: Previewing the last weekend of the 2022 Liga Profesional

Episode 442: Atlético Tucumán STILL lead the race … just about

Atlético Tucumán remain top of the league by the skin of their teeth: this week Sam and Dan review two rounds of matches in which the leaders lost one and won one, but currently sit atop the table due to Gimnasia v Boca, which kicked off just after we finished recording, having to be called off due to heavy-handed policing (seemingly after too many tickets were sold). We look back on bucketloads of goals in Racing’s matches and give an explanation of the relegation system for anyone who’s joined us in the last couple of years (i.e. since it was last used).

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Hand Of Pod · Episode 422: Atlético Tucumán STILL lead the race … just about

Episode 322: the Superliga is back, Emiliano Sala, and Argentina’s women want professionalism

The three hundred and twenty-second episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by English Dan, Andrés and Tony to look back on the first two Superliga matches of 2019, as River Plate lost at home to Defensa y Justicia and ten-man San Lorenzo ground out a 0-0 draw at home to Huracán. We have a few words on Emiliano Sala after the news that his aircraft disappeared on Monday night, and discuss a developing disagreement between clubs, league and players in the Argentine women’s game which has seen appeals to make women’s football in Argentina professional.

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Episode 318: River lift the Libertadores, and Racing take a healthy lead into the summer

In the three hundred and eighteenth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Tony, Andrés and English Dan meet to review what turned out – for all the controversy and sadness surrounding the match – to be an entertaining Copa Libertadores final second leg, which culminated in River Plate being crowned champions of South America for the fourth time after beating Boca Juniors in extra time. We also review the final weekend of Superliga action of 2018, which sees Racing very much in the driving seat as the teams head into the summer break.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn. And if you’d like to help support the pod financially, you can find us on Patreon.

Episode 292: a cancellation conspiracy, and more

In the two hundred and ninety-second episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam and Andrés discuss the silliness of the conspiracy theories surrounding why Gimnasia v Boca Juniors was called off on Sunday (some fans seem to think Daniel Angelici controls the weather), and we look back at a Superliga weekend which saw Godoy Cruz keep up their slim title hopes with a clásico victory, and a five goal thriller (of sorts) in Parque Patricios among other matches.

A reminder that HOP is now on Patreon, where you’ll find two extra mini-episodes each week if you support us to the tune of US$5 per month or more. The latest HOP Extra, recorded right after we finished up episode 292, is already online. You can join the ranks of our supporters here.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn.

From the matches that actually ended up taking place last weekend, Mystic Sam got 6/11. This week, we have a challenger again: Mystic Nate.

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

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

Episode 285: River shock Boca to win the Supercopa (that almost rhymes …)

The two hundred and eighty-fifth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés look back over a weekend of Superliga action that, erm, neither of them managed to catch an awful lot of. Among the bits they did see were last minute wins for Boca Juniors and River Plate, and an entertaining game between Independiente and Argentinos Juniors which saw El Rojo cement third place in the Superliga. There’s also discussion of Wednesday night’s Supercopa Argentina, which saw River turn in their best performance of the last six months or so to spring a surprise, beating Boca 2-0 to lift the trophy. The prize itself isn’t of huge importance, of course, but the repercussions for both clubs’ seasons could be – most notably, could this be the springboard for a revival in River’s fortunes?

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn.

Last week, Mystic Sam beat Mystic Liam 10-6. This time out, Mystic Nate steps up to take a beating (yes, Sam’s getting cocky …)

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

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

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