As never seen: the most complete X-ray of the 5 classics with the most history of Argentine football

The expectation increases with the arrival of a new edition of the Superclassic that will be animated by River and Boca at the Monumental. This is the 204th match between Millonarios and Xeneizes of the professional era, but it is not decisive for the development of the Professional League Cup. Anyway, it may be decisive for the future of Sebastian Battaglia, who recovered some oxygen after the victory in La Plata against Estudiantes.

After days convulsed by conflicts of internal coexistence and criticism of the team's performance, encouraged after falling with Huracán in La Bombonera, the coach will risk much of his capital in Núñez, where he received a hard slap the last time he visited him (1-2 with a double by Julián Álvarez, the afternoon of the early expulsion of Marcos Rojo).

The boquense strategist weighs on the uncomfortable statistics of not having won any official classic over five led: there were two draws and three defeats, one of them, against San Lorenzo (0-2), as interim during the cycle of Miguel Ángel Russo, who that night at La Bombonera could not sit in the alternate bank for preventive isolation due to COVID-19.

In history both have arguments to take charge, given that Boca has an advantage of 5 matches in its favor, it never went to relegation, it is the institution with the most official titles and has the fans that have acquired the most places over the years since its foundation. However, those of La Banda rely on the number of leagues won, the series hand in hand against the long-time rival (with the Copa Libertadores final in Madrid included) and the number of points earned in the domestic arena since its creation.

In Avellaneda there will be another highlight on Saturday night. It will be the first for both coaches: Eduardo Domínguez at the Rojo and Fernando Gago at the Academy. The former defender, DT champion with Colón de Santa Fe, will have a little more pressure for the locality and the need for the team to consolidate after a doubtful start with more draws than wins. Barba has an even record against Racing with three wins and three losses (one in his time through Hurricane) but among the victories is the resounding 3-0 of the 2021 League Cup final to win the first title in Sabalero history.

On the Racing side, Pintita had a good start to the year that helped him improve the image of the beginning of the cycle that had been with five defeats and three wins at the end of last season to qualify for the current edition of the Copa Sudamericana.

The last classic was left by Independiente with the 1-0 victory with the goal of former captain Silvio Romero, in heavy rain at the Libertadores de América. Their supporters boast about the paternity of 20 classics apart, but the albicelestes rely on the team's present to close the gap and dream of stretching the advantage over domestic leagues (the only hepta champion in Argentine football). In addition, if it comes to pride, fans of the Academy occupy the third place in sale of localities, while their neighbors settle in fifth place. Racing's last victory in the derby was precisely at the neighbor's house on February 23, 2019 by 3-1 with an outstanding performance by Lisandro López.

The biggest neighborhood classic in the world will be key for San Lorenzo as it could be a soulful push to get Pedro Troglio's cycle on track after the relief after the victory in Córdoba against Talleres, which meant the coach's first official triumph. Hurricane, with an irregular walk, will have the historic opportunity to end another long negative streak, as happened a week ago when he won again at La Bombonera against Boca after twelve years.

El Globo won only once in history at Pedro Bidegain and it was 20 years ago: on December 9, 2001 it won 1-0 with a goal from Emanuel “Tito” Villa against an alternative cyclone that was focused on the final of the Mercosur Cup. After that victory, eleven commitments passed and he could not repeat the celebration at Bajo Flores.

El Cuervo is the owner of the record with a wide superiority of 33 duels but his last victory was in November 2016 (2-0 at the Nuevo Gasometer) and eight games have not been able to beat the burning cast .

For their part, Gymnastics and Estudiantes will meet again in the Forest after the unforgettable and changing 4-4 tie last December. On a great afternoon of Luis Miguel “Pulga” Rodríguez, Néstor Gorosito's team was two goals up on the scoreboard with half an hour left to go and very close to cutting the 11-year streak without winning but Pincha made the party bitter again.

For this new edition, the Wolf did not arrive at a good time as he lost three of the last four matches and in his last performance was beaten by River 4-0 at Monumental. The Leon, meanwhile, lost the undefeated to Boca in UNO and in between had to resolve their qualification to the group stage of the Copa Libertadores against Everton of Chile.

Ricardo Zielinski's team began to feel the wear and tear of double competition and although they achieved their goal against the Andean team, they will look for a new joy in the classic of the City of the Diagonals. Estudiantes dominates the history with an advantage of 17 matches and the eleven year streak without losing the classic platense. Gimnasia's last victory was on February 3, 2010 for the Clausura tournament in the Forest and on that occasion it was also to break a five-year drought without triumphs against the Lion.

Finally, Rosario Central, with her DT Cristian “Kily” González cornered by poor results, will receive Javier Sanguinetti's Newell's in Arroyito, who will have his first experience in one of the country's most passionate classics. The Canalla suffered a tough 3-1 defeat to Barracas Central at El Gigante that left the coach on the tightrope, as after being left out of the Copa Sudamericana on the last date of the 2021 tournament, the team had a terrible start in the League Cup.

Leprosy comes a little better since although he let out the victory in Junín against Sarmiento, he had previously won two victories in a row. The rojinegro cast will feature the return of Pablo Pérez, a historic who will seek to win again in foreign territory after three commitments - and almost six years - and shorten the distance of 9 crosses in history.

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