This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi review a weekend of Liga Profesional action that saw Vélez Sarsfield extend their lead at the top of the league to five points (the race for second place is MUCH tighter) and River Plate put an end to their run of drawing in the league and winning in the Copa Libertadores by ... winning in the league and drawing in the Copa. We also have some talk about the latest political rumblings at the AFA and Juan Sebastián Verón's hopes of private financing (but not ownership) at Estudiantes.

Hand Of Pod 2024

Episode 507: Vélez extend their lead, River get their priorities mixed up

This week Sam, English Dan, Chris and Andrés look back on a double header of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers that saw Argentina draw a water polo match away to Venezuela before turning on the style – and seeing Lionel Messi roll back the years – with a 6–0 win over Bolivia. We also look at the qualifiers from elsewhere on the continent and talk AFA politics (again).

Episode 511: Another Messi hat trick and the rest of the CONMEBOL qualifiers

When we recorded this week's podcast – before Vélez Sarsfield's 1–0 win over Tigre – it looked like Racing might somehow be in the title race. They're still not exactly out of it, and Sam, English Dan and Andrés discuss why that's the case, back-to-back wins for River Plate and Aldosivi securing promotion back to the top flight.

Episode 514: Racing are in a title race somehow?!

On Wednesday Central Córdoba de Santiago del Estero became the first club from their province to win a major national title, beating Vélez Sarsfield 1–0 in a controversial Copa Argentina final. Sam, English Dan and Santi meet to review that match and to preview Sunday's two matches, which will decide whether Vélez ultimately finish a very impressive year empty handed, as they host fellow title hopefuls Huracán with Talleres eager to pounce as well should they slip up.

Episode 516: Central Córdoba win the Copa Argentina and previewing the Liga Profesional finale

We're back! The 2025 Liga Profesional de Fútbol season kicks off on Thursday evening, and Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Chris are here to preview it for you. How many teams are there this year? What will the format be? What's happening to the Copa de la Liga? All these questions and more are answered here ...

Episode 518: the 2025 season is upon us

Estudiantes beat Racing 2–0 in round 3, and as such are the only team with a 100% (winning) record. Sam, English Dan and Andrés run the rule over that match, River Plate's iffy 0–0 draw with San Lorenzo and Boca Juniors' 2–1 win over Huracán, among other games. We also have a review of the Sudamericano Sub 20 in the last week and answer some listeners' questions.

Episode 520: Estudiantes set the pace early on

This week Sam, English Dan, Chris and Andrés look at a round and a half of matches that have seen everyone who'd played up to the start of recording get mixed results (with the scores that came in after we wrapped up continuing that trend). One Argentine team who do have some consistency are the national under-20s, who've secured qualification for the U-20 World Cup later this year and have a showdown with Brazil on Thursday night to effectively decide the South American title. And what on earth is going on at Estudiantes?

Episode 521: A mixed week for ... pretty much everyone

This week Sam, Chris and Andrés look at a round of league action that saw Vélez Sarsfield lose again and Tigre and Central Córdoba continue their unexpectedly bright starts to the season. Both Boca Juniors and River Plate claimed narrow victories, though Boca's Libertadores playoff first leg away to Alianza Lima ended in defeat on Wednesday. And what on earth is Foster Gillett up to?

Episode 522: Vélez still winless and Boca's Libertadores campaign begins with defeat

This week Sam, English Dan and Andrés are joined for the first time by Fer, the sport correspondent for the Buenos Aires Herald, who tells us why champions Vélez Sarsfield have been struggling so much for the last couple of months – which is perfect timing, as they sacked Sebastián Domínguez as manager after defeat to Huracán at the weekend. Dan is in a good mood thanks to Racing's authoritative win over Botafogo in the Recopa Sudamericana, and for River Plate it's the same old song ...

Episode 524: Vélez sack Domínguez and Racing win the Recopa

This week Sam, English Dan, Santi, Andrés and Chris look back on a weekend of action that saw the two Avellaneda sides get contrasting results ahead of their big derby this weekend. River Plate actually managed to impress Andrés for once (even though their finishing was awful) and Fernando Gago managed to keep his job at Boca Juniors for another week.

Episode 525: Independiente win and Racing lose ahead of the clásico de Avellaneda

The internet's longest-running English-language Argentine football podcast, fueled by fernet since November 2010. Presented by Sam Kelly, with a rotating cast of friends.

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