Impressed by La Liga LocaâÂÂs BeginerâÂÂs Guide to La LigaâÂÂs Last Day, there seemed no reason, in much the same way as Argie BargyâÂÂs adopted country copied the language, not to copy the idea from the motherland.
Here are the weekendâÂÂs talking pointsâ¦
Title race
He of the rabona (the Joe Cole wrap-around to you and me), he who was the original 'Next Maradona', he who compared winning the title but not being the best team in the league to the best looking girl not being up to much in the sack, could become He of the Clasura âÂÂ10 champions.
Argentinos Juniors travel to Huracán on Sunday. A win, and perhaps a draw, will see the club win their first title since 1985, and add another chapter to the legend of Claudio âÂÂBichiâ Borghi, the Argentinos coach.
Libertadores
Keeping an eye on how things pan out for Argentinos will be Estudiantes, still in with a shout of winning the title. A single one goal has all but dashed hopes of the double. 0-0 last Sunday with Central means they need Argentinos to lose to have a chance of winning the league.
On Thursday, they lost â undeservedly - to Internacional in the Libertadores to a late header. The result isnâÂÂt beyond reach for next weekâÂÂs return leg, but it is the proverbial montaña that they have to climb.
Sudamericana watch
Everyone may see it as a rubbish Europa League, which is really saying something, and it may be concocted to attract TV money and simply fill in the non-Libertadores Cup half of the year, but the Sudamericana is in fact a fair reflection of the seasonâÂÂs best teams.
The traditional European season, as you all know, is broken down into the Apertura and Clausura in Argentina, allowing two champions. Together, they make up the âÂÂnormalâ season and it is the top six from this table that provides ArgentinaâÂÂs entries to the competition.
So far Argentinos, Banfield, NewellâÂÂs, Estudiantes and Independiente have all qualified. Vélez and Lanús both need to win, and the other not to, to grab the final spot.
Relegation watch
Tigre fans conducted a peaceful, amicable, and in-no-way-violence-inciting pretend funeral up in the stands for their hated rivals Chacarita last weekend. The Undertakers, together with Atlético Tucumán have hogged the first two relegations spots all to themselves. Central and Gimnasia will play the relegation playoff, against sides from the second division yet to be decided.
River/Boca watch
After three spells at the club, six league titles, one Libertadores, one Supercopa, over 300 games and nearly 70 goals, Marcelo Gallardo is leaving River Plate. Wiping away the tears, the playmaker â affectionately known as âÂÂChuckyâ (from ChildâÂÂs Play, for his looks) told the press that it was best for him to leave.
He wants to carry on playing, but with a injury record that makes Arjen Robben look like Bruce Willis in Unbreakable, we may not be seeing much more of Gallardo.
Mauro Camoranesi wonâÂÂt be replacing him. Offered half of what RiverâÂÂs top earner takes to the bank, the Juve playerâÂÂs agent walked out of the meeting after four (4) minutes. Second choice Argie Bargy also scoffed at the $400,000 offer. River clearly donâÂÂt know what journalism paysâ¦
Riquelme, meanwhile, is injured and needs surgery. The debate about him not going to the World Cup is now officially null and void, because it doesnâÂÂt matter that he is a genius but also refers to himself as Riquleme, and that he fell out with Maradona. The debate is over. He wouldnâÂÂt have made it.
World Cup squad watch
Ariel Garcé is going to South Africa, yes or yes (as the Argentines would say it). âÂÂI booked the flights with my mates months ago,â said the defender. He, like most of us, clearly wasnâÂÂt expecting Diego to offer him the chance to play while he was there.
MartÃÂn Palermo, meanwhile, may have his chances of making the final 23 scuppered by his ex-wife, Lorena Barrichi. Lorena has filed a lawsuit against Palermo, citing tax evasion and money laundering. No hard feelings after the split, then.
Final Day Fixtures
Arsenal-Godoy Cruz
San Lorenzo-NewellâÂÂs
Banfield-Boca
Chacarita/Palermo Dead-Racing
Gimnasia â Atlético Tucumán
River-Tigre
Independiente-Lanús
Central â Vélez
Huracán â Argentinos
Colón - Estudiantes
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