Huracan – Belgrano
Huracán were one of the standout teams of the first half of the year, but couldn’t crown their campaign with a title. A 1-0 loss to Platense in the Torneo Apertura final denied them a long-awaited league championship after 52 years. The result also ended a three-match unbeaten run in the competition (two wins and one draw). On the downside, they currently sit just within the Copa Sudamericana qualification zone in the overall table and have earned only two points from their last nine at home in league play. Head coach Frank Kudelka will miss Walter Mazzanti (transferred to Independiente) and Marco Pellegrino (Boca Juniors), with Juan Bisanz, arriving from Banfield, and Nehuén Paz (Tigre) as the only additions so far. Belgrano are heading into the Torneo Clausura in a complicated position. Their 1-1 draw away to Unión Santa Fe left them with 17 points—just four above the relegation zone—and on a four-match winless run in league play (three draws and one loss). In fact, they have earned just seven of a possible 24 points on the road this year. The club added five new signings, including Thiago Cardozo (from Unión Santa Fe), Federico Ricca (OH Leuven, Belgium), and Lisandro López (Olimpia, Paraguay), while no key players have left the squad. During the league break, Belgrano reached the round of 16 in the Copa Argentina by beating second-tier side Defensores de Belgrano 3-2. Can’t see Huracan as strong as last season without Walter Mazzanti in attack and Pellegrino in defense, and today they will miss key goalkeeper Galindez due to injury, so I expect Belgrano to at least get a draw here.