Family And Friends Do Come First...

Again social commitments are going to keep me from watching another Newell's Old Boys match, this time it is the Apertura match up against Gimnasia de la Plata.

Gabriel Cichero is still out injured, so Rolando Schiavi will still be allowed to play tonight, thanks to article 225. Mauricio Sperduti will return to the starting eleven in place of Franco Dolci. The line up tonight should, baring any last minute changes, look like this:

Sebastián Peratta
Agustín Alayes, Rolando Schiavi, Ignacio Fideleff
Luciano Vella, Diego Mateo, Lucas Bernardi, Marcelo Estigarribia
Mauro Formica
Mauricio Sperduti, Iván Borghello

With the game at home, against the team sitting in last place, a win should be a sure thing. That said, it did not work out that way against Quilmes, who still have yet to win a single game this Apertura. I expect to get around to writing about the Gimnasia match tomorrow evening.

Also, a quick correction, as the next Copa Sudamericana match for Newell's will not be this week, but the next.

In the meantime, Rosario Central continue to flounder down in the B. After a 2-0 loss to Boca Unitos they took another loss as coach Reinaldo Merlo has left the team. With a record of 4 wins, 4 ties, and 4 losses they have risen above the relegation zone, but with eight teams ahead of them in the race back up to the Primera A the much traveled Merlo decided to call it a day. Here's the list of the team's he's been in charge of sense 1989:

Los Andes
River Plate
Argentina U-20
Argentina U-17
Bolívar
Deportes Temuco
Chacarita Juniors
Atlético Nacional
Belgrano
Racing Club
Estudiantes LP
River Plate
Racing Club
Barcelona SC
Rosario Central

That's 15 jobs in 21 years. Considering that he wasn't coaching during the years 1992, 1994, 1996-97, and 2003, it means the man has a record of not sticking around for much more than a year at any given coaching job. Makes one wonder why anyone in their right mind would hire him in the first place... oh, wait, it was Central that hired him.

Here are Boca Unidos highlights from their victory over Sinas: