Lanus Are The Champions of Argentina

Lanus drew 1-1 with Boca Juniors to secure the point they required to clinch their first ever Argentine championship crown in the 2007 Apertura.

Ramon Cabrero's team, lead by their inspirational and prolific goalscorer, Jose Sand, fully deserved their title and it will be interesting to see if they can defend it during the Clausura. A few of the top Argentine sides and maybe those from Europe will be sniffing around some of their best performers, so their first task will probably be to keep this team together.

In the end the result of Lanus' game did not matter, as their only rivals Tigre lost 1-0 to Argentinos Juniors, thus ending their own hopes of taking the title.

Although the top three teams have now completed their campaigns, there is still one more round of games to be played for the other teams next weekend.

The full results were as follows:

Rosario Central 3 -2 San Martin San Juan
Colon de Santa Fe 0 - 2 Estudiantes
Olimpo Bahia Blanca 4 - 0 River Plate
Huracan 3 - 0 Racing Avellaneda
Gimnasia de Jujuy 0 - 1 Newell's Old Boys
Banfield 1 - 0 San Lorenzo
Boca Juniors 1 -1 Lanus
Argentinos Juniors 1 - 0 Tigre
Independiente 1 - 1 Velez Sarsfield

Lanus and Tigre Remain in Title Battle as Boca Fall Out of Contention

Victories for Lanus and Tigre last night left the title race open, going into the final round of games this weekend.

Tigre defeated Boca Juniors 2-1, despite going behind to an early Martin Palermo strike after eight minutes. Second half goals from Leandro Lazzaro and Martin Morel turned the game in Tigre's favour and they were able to hold on for the victory that keeps them in the title challenge.

Lanus continued their ruthless home form, beating Argentinos Juniors 4-0 at La Fortaleza. Two goals from Jose Sand and single strikes from Diego Valeri and Nelson Benitez leave Lanus in pole position to claim their first ever Argentine title on Sunday.

Lanus lead Tigre by three points going into the last weekend. Tigre are away to Argentinos Juniors, with Lanus facing a tough away game at Boca. Lanus only require a draw to claim the title, but if Tigre win and they lose, there will be a playoff game to decide the Apertura 2007 Champion, as they will be tied on thirty-seven points.

Argentina Torneo Apertura - Possible Title Deciders Tonight

Due to Boca Juniors participation in the World Club Championship, their fixture from the final round of the season has been moved forward to today in order to allow them more preparation time for the tournament.

In the interest of fairness, Lanus will also play their final round game tonight, meaning that next weekend's showdown between Boca and Lanus could very well be a title decider.

However, Boca play second placed Tigre, with Lanus hoping for a Boca victory or draw, as that will guarantee them the title if they can defeat Argentinos Juniors.

There is therefore, a very good chance that the Apertura 2007 championship could be decided this evening.

Argentina Torneo Apertura Round 17 Results - Still Tight At The Top

Boca Juniors and Lanus both dropped points at the top of the table, allowing Tigre to force their way into the title battle with two games to play in the Apertura.

Arsenal de Sarandi defeated Boca 2-1 on Sunday, with Lanus then only able to manage a 0-0 draw with Argentinos Juniors later in the evening. The results increased the gap between the sides to four points and means that Lanus just need to get a draw away to Boca next weekend to be guaranteed to finish ahead of Miguel Angel Russo's side.

However, a third team has entered the championship chase, after Tigre defeated Rosario Central 2-1 on Friday to move a point ahead of Boca and thus three points behind the leaders Lanus. A draw or a win for Boca next weekend, coupled with a Tigre victory away at Argentinos would put Ramon Cabrero's side in contention for their first championship since 1993.

Only the top three sides can now possibly take the title, after Independiente's 0-0 draw with Racing Avellaneda left them seven points off Lanus at the top of the table with only two games left to play.

Elsewhere, there was more pain for managerless River Plate, who succumbed to a 2-0 home defeat against Colon de Santa Fe, whereas Ramon Diaz, fresh from rejecting River's approach, led his San Lorenzo side to a 1-0 victory over Olimpo Bahia Blanca.

Full Results:

San Lorenzo 1 -0 Olimpo Bahia Blanca
Tigre 2 - 1 Rosario Central
Racing Avellaneda 0 -0 Independiente
River Plate 0 - 2 Colon de Santa Fe
Newell's Old Boys 1 - 0 Banfield
Velez Sarsfield 3 -1 Gimnasia La Plata
San Martin San Juan 3 - 2 Gimnasia de Jujuy
Arsenal de Sarandi 2 -1 Boca Juniors
Estudiantes 1 -1 Huracan
Lanus 0 -0 Argentinos Juniors

Argentina Torneo Apertura Round 16 Results

Lanus and Boca Juniors both hit their respective opponents for four as the battle for the Torneo Apertura begins to reach its climax.

Lanus struck the first blow, winning 4-1 away to Rosario Central on Saturday night, before Boca responded with a 4-0 home victory against Velez Sarsfield on Sunday. The results leave Lanus three points ahead of Boca with three games remaining. The sides meet at the Bombonera on the penultimate day of the season, in what could easily be the title decider.

Tigre are still holding onto the front two after their convincing 3-0 victory over San Martin San Juan. They lie two points behind Boca, ready to pounce should both teams slip up in their remaining games. Independiente are now almost certainly out of the race after losing 2-1 at home to Estudiantes, leaving them seven points off the leaders.

Elsewhere, the future of River Plate boss Daniel Passarella is looking decidedly uncertain after their 2-1 defeat to Huracan left them with no mathematical chance of taking the Apertura crown. Having promised to deliver silverware by the end of the year, Passarella's hopes now rest on the Copa Sudamericana. River face Arsenal de Sarandi this week in the second leg of their semi-final clash, after a 0-0 draw in the first leg. If they lose that game, then that will most likely signal the end of El Kaizer's reign in charge of the Buenos Aires giants.

Gimnasia La Plata 1 -3 Racing Avellaneda
Rosario Central 1 - 4 Lanus
Banfield 1 -1 Gimnasia de Jujuy
Olimpo Bahia Blanca 1 - 0 Newell's Old Boys
Colon de Santa Fe 0 - 0 San Lorenzo
Huracan 2 - 1 River Plate
Independiente 1 - 2 Estudiantes
Tigre 3 - 0 San Martin San Juan
Boca Juniors 4 - 0 Velez Sarsfield
Argentinos Juniors 4 - 0 Arsenal de Sarandi

Argentina Torneo Apertura Round 15 Results

Arsenal de Sarandi 1 - 0 Rosario Central
San Martin San Juan 0 - 1 Banfield
Gimnasia de Jujuy 0 - 3 Olimpo Bahia Blanca
Racing Avellaneda 0 - 3 Boca Juniors
Newell's Old Boys 1 - 1 Colon de Santa Fe
Estudiantes 1 - 0 Gimnasia La Plata
San Lorenzo 1 - 1 Huracan
River Plate 1 - 1 Independiente
Lanus 2 - 1 Tigre
Velez Sarsfield 3 - 0 Argentinos Juniors

Argentina Torneo Apertura Round 14 Results

Tigre 2 - 0 Arsenal de Sarandi
Lanus 2 - 0 San Martin San Juan
Olimpo Bahia Blanca 1 - 1 Banfield
Rosario Central 0 - 2 Velez Sarsfield
Colon de Santa Fe 0 - 1 Gimnasia de Jujuy
Argentinos Juniors 1 -0 Racing Avellaneda
Huracan 3 - 1 Newell's Old Boys
Gimnasia La Plata 0 - 2 River Plate
Boca Juniors 1 - 1 Estudiantes
Independiente 1 - 2 San Lorenzo

Argentina Torneo Apertura Round 13 Results

Gimnasia de Jujuy 2 - 0 Huracan
Banfield 3 - 1 Colon de Santa Fe
Olimpo Bahia Blanca 2 - 1 San Martin San Juan
Racing Avellaneda 2 - 2 Rosario Central
Velez Sarsfield 1 - 1 CA Tigre
San Lorenzo 1 - 1 Gimnasia La Plata
River Plate 2 - 0 Boca Juniors
Newell's Old Boys 2 - 1 Independiente
Estudiantes 3 -0 Argentinos Juniors
Arsenal de Sarandi 0 - 1 Lanus

River Plate triumphed in the Super Clasico against Boca Juniors, dominating the game from start to finish. Boca were unable to deal with the attacking triple threat of Radamel Falcao and Ariel Ortega up front and teenage sensation Diego Buonanotte in the playmaker position.

Falcao fired in the first from a Fernando Belluschi pass, seconds after hitting the bar with a powerful header. Ten minutes before half time, Buonanotte was fouled in the area by Gabriel Paletta, and Ortega stepped up to covert a re-taken penalty.

Any chance that Boca had of coming back into the match was scuppered just before half time, when Ever Banega was sent off for his second bookable offence after taking out River right back Paulo Ferrari.

River strolled to victory in the second half, with Buonanotte a constant threat to the Boca defence. River seem to have unearthed a real gem, with Buonanotte already receiving the 'next Maradona' tag in the Argentine media. He would be advised to have a word with teammate Ortega, who himself had to live with the same tag for much of his early career and should have some much needed advice for the youngster. If protected correctly, Buonanotte certainly looks like he has the potential to be a world class player.

The only consolation for Boca on an otherwise miserable day, was that Independiente failed to take advantage in the battle at the top of the table, as they went down 2-1 to Newell's Old Boys. The gap therefore remains at two points going into the international break.

Argentina Torneo Apertura Round 12 Results

Colon de Santa Fe 3 - 0 Olimpo Bahia Blanca
Independiente 3 - 0 Gimansia de Jujuy
Huracan 1 - 0 Banfield
Argentinos Juniors 4 - 1 River Plate
Lanus 2 -1 Velez Sarsfield
Boca Juniors 2 - 0 San Lorenzo
Rosario Central 2 - 2 Estudiantes La Plata
San Martin San Juan 1 - 1 Arsenal de Sarandi
Tigre 3 - 2 Racing Avellaneda

Argentina Torneo Apertura Round 11 Results

Olimpo Bahia Blanca 3 - 1 Huracan
Estudiantes La Plata 2 - 2 Tigre
Gimnasia de Jujuy 4 - 0 Gimnasia La Plata
Colon de Santa Fe 1 - 1 San Martin San Juan
Velez Sarsfield 0 - 0 Arsenal de Sarandi
Banfield 2 - 0 Independiente
River Plate 3 - 3 Rosario Central
Racing Avellaneda 1 - 1 Lanus
San Lorenzo 2 - 1 Argentinos Juniors
Newell's Old Boys 1 - 0 Boca Juniors

Argentina Torneo Apertura Round 10 (and belated Round 9) Results

Huracan 2 - 2 Colon de Santa Fe
Rosario Central 1 -3 San Lorenzo
Gimnasia La Plata 0 - 1 Banfield
Argentinos Juniors 4 -0 Newell's Old Boys
San Martin San Juan 3 - 2 Velez Sarsfield
Independiente 3 - 0 Olimpo Bahia Blanca
CA Tigre 4 - 1 River Plate
Boca Juniors 2 - 2 Gimnasia de Jujuy
Lanus 1 - 0 Estudiantes
Arsenal de Sarandi 0 - 1 Racing Avellaneda

And the results of Round 9

Gimnasia de Jujuy 1 - 1 Argentinos Juniors
Colon de Santa Fe 1 - 3 Independiente
Olimpo Bahia Blanca 0 - 0 Gimnasia La Plata
Huracan 2 -1 San Martin San Juan
Estudiantes 1 -1 Arsenal de Sarandi
Racing Avellaneda 1 - 0 Velez Sarsfield
San Lorenzo 2 -1 CA Tigre
Newell's Old Boys 0 - 1 Rosario Central
River Plate 3 - 1 Lanus
Banfield 0 - 6 Boca Juniors

Argentina Torneo Apertura Week 7 Results

Gimnasia de Jujuy 0 - 2 CA Tigre
Olimpo Bahia Blanca 1- 1 Argentinos Juniors
Banfield 3 - 2 Rosario Central
Huracan BA 0 -1 Gimnasia La Plata
Newell's Old Boys 0 -0 CA Lanus
Independiente 2 - 2 San Martin San Juan
Estudiantes La Plata 2 -1 Racing Avellaneda
San Lorenzo 2 -4 Arsenal de Sarandi
River Plate 5 - 0 Velez Sarsfield
Colon de Santa Fe 1 - 0 Boca Juniors

One Midweek Argentina Torneo Apertura Result

River Plate made up their final game in hand by defeating Newell's Old Boys 3-1 last night.

Argentina Torneo Apertura Week 6 Results

CA Tigre 1 - 0 CA Banfield
Rosario Central 1 - 1 Olimpo Bahia Blanca
Arsenal de Sarandi 1 - 0 Newell's Old Boys
Argentinos Juniors 2 - 1 Colon de Santa Fe
CA Lanus 2 - 0 Gimnasia de Jujuy
Gimnasia La Plata 1 - 0 CA Independiente
San Martin San Juan 1 - 0 Estudiantes La Plata
Velez Sarsfield 2 - 0 San Lorenzo
Racing Avellaneda 1 - 1 River Plate
Boca Juniors 1 - 0 Huracan

Argentina Torneo Apertura Week 5 Results

CA Banfield 1 -2 CA Lanus
Colon de Santa Fe 2 - 0 Rosario Central
Olimpo Bahia Blanca 0 -1 CA Tigre
San Lorenzo 4 - 3 Racing Avellaneda
Gimnasia de Jujuy 1 - 0 Arsenal de Sarandi
River Plate 4 - 2 Estudiantes La Plata
Huracan 3 -2 Argentinos Juniors
Independiente 2 -3 Boca Juniors
Newell's Old Boys 2 - 0 Velez Sarsfield
Gimnasia La Plata 2 - 0 San Martin San Juan

Daniel Passarella looks to have saved his job for at least another week after his River side recorded their first victory of the season against reigning Apertura champions Estudiantes.

Elsewhere, Boca Juniors closed the gap at the top of the table to two points after defeating early leaders Independiente 3-2 away from home.

Argentina Torneo Apertura Week 4 Results

CA Tigre 0 - 2 Colon de Santa Fe
Racing Avellaneda 2 - 0 Newells Old Boys
Rosario Central 0 - 1 Huracan
Arsenal de Sarandi 0 - 4 CA Banfield
CA Lanus 2 -1 Olimpo Bahia Blanca
Argentinos Juniors 0 - 1 CA Independiente
Estudiantes La Plata 1 -1 San Lorenzo
San Martin San Juan 1 - 0 River Plate
Boca Juniors 2 - 1 Gimnasia La Plata
Velez Sarsfield 4 - 2 Gimnasia de Jujuy

River's defeat to San Martin has heaped pressure onto coach Daniel Passarella, with some sections of the fans, along with various club personnel calling for his head. River face Estudiantes on Wednesday, with anything less than a victory possibly sealing the fate of Passarella.

Former Boca coach Carlos Bianchi has been linked with River, but has moved quickly to dispell such rumours.

Midweek Results - Argentina and Brazil

A couple of catchup fixtures were played last night, results as follows.

Argentina Torneo Apertura 2007

Gimnasia de Jujuy 2 - 2 River Plate

Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A 2007

Flamengo RJ 4 - 0 Juventude CDS

Argentina Torneo Apertura Week 3 Results

Gimnasia La Plata 0 - 2 Argentinos Juniors
CA Independiente 1 - 0 Rosario Central
Huracan 0 - 0 CA Tigre
Colon de Santa Fe 2 - 1 CA Lanus
Olimpo Bahia Blanca 1 - 0 Arsenal de Sarandi
CA Banfield 1 - 0 Velez Sarsfield
San Lorenzo 1 - 1 River Plate
Gimnasia de Jujuy 2 - 1 Racing Avellaneda
Newell's Old Boys 2 -1 Estudiantes La Plata
Boca Juniors 1 - 0 San Martin San Juan

Argentina Torneo Apertura Week 2 Results

Here are the results from week 2 of the Apertura.

Arsenal de Sarandi 2 - 0 Colon de Santa Fe
San Martin San Juan 1 -2 San Lorenzo
Rosario Central 2 - 2 Gimnasia La Plata
Velez Sarsfield 3 - 0 Olimpo Bahia Blanca
Racing Avellaneda 0 -1 CA Banfield
Estudiantes la Plata 1 - 0 Gimansia de Jujuy
CA Tigre 0 -3 CA Independiente
CA Lanus 1 - 1 Hurucan
Argentinos Juniors 3 - 2 Boca Juniors

River Plate's game with Newell's Old Boys was postponed due to the perceived threat of violence outside the ground, due to the ongoing deadly feud between former Los Borrachos Del Tablon leaders Alan Schlenker and Adrian Rousseau.

River's next fixture is away to San Lorenzo next weekend and is expected to go ahead.

Argentina Torneo Apertura Week 1 Results

Here are the week one results from the Apertura

Colon de Santa Fe 0 - 1 Velez Sarsfield
CA Banfield 0 - 3 Estudiantes La Plata
Gimnasia La Plata 0 -1 CA Tigre BA
Argentinos Juniors 0 -1 San Martin San Juan
CA Independiente 5 -3 CA Lanus
Newells Old Boys 1 - 0 San Lorenzo BA
Olimpo Bahia Blanca 0 -2 Racing Avellaneda
Boca Juniors 0 - 0 Rosario Central
Huracan BA 1 -1 Arsenal de Sarandi