Episode 184: One more superclásico, Independiente’s Europe-bound players, Argentina squads and more

UPDATE: Sadly, since we recorded this episode on Wednesday night, Banfield youngster Emanuel Ortega (on loan to San Martín de Burzaco) died early on Thursday morning of head injuries sustained in a match last week when he collided with a perimeter wall. The AFA have suspended all domestic football across Argentina this weekend. Hand Of Pod’s thoughts are with Ortega’s family and friends. QEPD.

In the hundred and eighty-fourth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Peter and Andrés look back on a goal-laden weekend of Primera División action, and on last week’s Copa Libertadores last sixteen first leg between River Plate and Boca Juniors. We consider what River’s 1-0 win means for Thursday night’s return leg, and domestically we discuss Crucero del Norte’s uselessness, Belgrano’s and Rosario Central’s good campaigns, and Independiente’s chances of losing three players to various European clubs, as well as Federico Mancuello’s hilarious red card on Sunday night against Boca, and why he won’t be suspended for this Sunday’s clásico away to Racing, which we also preview. Listen before Thursday’s Libertadores second leg between Boca and River for the full experience, but there’s plenty more in store if you don’t get here until afterwards! HOP is sponsored by Argentina Independent, a fine English-language source of news from Argentina and across Latin America. And you can listen to Sam’s live ‘commentary’ on Boca Juniors v River Plate for Rabble TV over here – mute the commentators on your TV/stream, and tune in here instead. He might be drunk by the end of the game, but he’ll probably make at least as much sense anyway.

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

Episode 120: previewing River v Boca, and crisis at Racing & Huracán

The hundred-and-twentieth episode of Hand Of Pod is the first appearance of Fede González, and it’s timed perfectly – he works on one of the most popular unofficial Boca Juniors Twitter accounts around, and has arrived just in time for our big superclásico preview episode. We discuss bad times at Racing and second division giants Huracán and consider another impressive performance from leaders Newell’s Old Boys before turning our eye on the weekend’s biggest attraction: the super. Both River Plate and Boca Juniors won last time out, so come into this one in rude health and both in the title race for the first time in what seems like a long while. Before closing, we also consider Mauro Icardi’s first call-up for Argentina for next week’s World Cup qualifiers, in Lionel Messi’s absence. Since this episode was recorded, Vélez Sarsfield have advanced in the Copa Sudamericana and Arsenal beat All Boys on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Copa Argentina semi-final.

As usual, Mystic Sam’s predictions are below, and you can click here if you still haven’t yet subscribed to us on iTunes.

Mystic Sam’s tenth round predictions
Argentinos v Belgrano
Quilmes v Newell’s
Olimpo v Estudiantes
San Lorenzo v Tigre
Gimnasia v Vélez
River v Boca
Racing v Rafaela
Colón v Arsenal
Godoy Cruz v All Boys
Central v Lanús