Best Inicial Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 551: ¡ESTUDIANTES CAMPEÓN! 1:09:20

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6d ago1:09:20

1:09:20

This week Sam, Chris, Andrés, Santi B and special guest Andrés Gurrieri, who did NOT used to play for Exeter, meet up to discuss Estudiantes de La Plata's penalty shootout win over Racing in a less-than-classic Torneo Clausura final in Santiago del Estero. We also have a bit of news from San Lorenzo (for a lot more detail, and plenty more content b…

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Episode 550: Racing and Estudiantes edge two dull semifinals and the 2026 Liga takes shape 1:16:55

13d ago1:16:55

1:16:55

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés, Chris and both Santis review two rather boring Torneo Clausura semifinals which saw Estudiantes and Racing advance to Saturday's final. We also look at the draw for next year's group stage and try to explain why the AFA and various clubs have had their offices raided by investigators.…

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Episode 549: two clásicos in the Clausura semifinals 1:12:52

20d ago1:12:52

1:12:52

This week Sam, English Dan and Andrés review last weekend's Torneo Clausura quarterfinals and look forward to Sunday and Monday's semis, which see an all-Big Five clash in the Bombonera between Boca Juniors and Racing and a clásico platense between Gimnasia and Estudiantes. There's also news of a thumping win for Argentina's women's team in the CON…

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Episode 548: Estudiantes in hot water as the Clausura playoffs begin 1:04:51

26d ago1:04:51

1:04:51

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi B review the first round of the Torneo Clausura playoffs, which saw ... um, champions? ... Rosario Central knocked out by Estudiantes following a controversial guard of 'honour' that broke a rule that didn't actually exist and has now seen Estudiantes president Seba Verón and several of their players sus…

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Episode 547: an unexpected 'title' for Central and plenty of catching up to do 1:23:34

1M ago1:23:34

1:23:34

We're back! Sam has been away for a while, so in this episode English Dan, Chris, Andrés and Santi B catch him up on what he's missed, which includes River Plate and Independiente not being very good, Boca Juniors and Racing being rather better, San Martín and Godoy Cruz being relegated and Rosario Central being awarded a championship no one knew w…

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Episode 546: Chaos at Independiente v U de Chile, but success for Argentina's Libertadores sides 1:20:03

4M ago1:20:03

1:20:03

This week Sam, English Dan and Andrés unpack the scenes in Avellaneda on Wednesday night, which saw the second half of Independiente v Universidad de Chile in the Copa Sudamericana abandoned after violence from both barra bravas in the stands. In the continent's other cup the news was much better for Argentina's representatives, who make up four of…

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Episode 545: Marcos Rojo moves to Racing ... but how much will he play? 57:46

4M ago57:46

57:46

This week Sam and English Dan have the studio to themselves, and sit down for a chat about a round of league action that, mercifully, saw more goals than the previous one. The big story of the week was off the pitch, as Racing signed Marcos Rojo, much to many fans' annoyance, and it then emerged that he's ineligible to play in the league until next…

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Episode 544: a Copa Argentina special 1:09:55

5M ago1:09:55

1:09:55

No league action last weekend means the focus for Sam, English Dan and Andrés is on reviewing the Copa Argentina this week. We have a bunch of matches from the round of sixteen and – because this is the Copa Argentina – one from the round of thirty-two to go over. There's also a brief update on how Argentina fared in the Copa América Femenina (get …

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Episode 543: not a lot of goals 1:00:37

5M ago1:00:37

1:00:37

This week Sam, English Dan and Andrés have only 13 goals in 15 matches to look back on from the third round of the Torneo Clausura – and even that total is only thanks to eight being scored in Monday's three matches. River Plate's 100% start has come to an end, Miguel Ángel Russo is under a lot of pressure at Boca Juniors and there's plenty more to…

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Episode 542: Another Di María penalty, another big win for River 1:12:33

5M ago1:12:33

1:12:33

This week Sam, English Dan, Santi S and Andrés review the second round of games in the Torneo Clausura, which saw Ángel Di María score another penalty (that's six in six matches for him now) to get the first win since his return to Rosario Central, River Plate convincingly beat Instituto to already become the only team with a 100% record and Leandr…

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Episode 541: a wild finish at the Cilindro, champions Platense lose to River and more 1:04:59

5M ago1:04:59

1:04:59

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi S meet to review the first round of action in the 2025 Torneo Clausura, which saw champions Platense concede three times in one game for the first time this year, not one but two injury-time winners (sort of) in the Cilindro and a less brilliant than anticipated clash of the Juniors as Argentinos and Boc…

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Episode 540: previewing the 2025 Torneo Clausura 1:24:45

6M ago1:24:45

1:24:45

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés, Santi S and Santi B get together to preview the 2025 Torneo Clausura, which kicked off a few hours before we recorded but will be going on for the next few months. Who's had a good transfer window? Who's appointed Carlos Tevez as their manager to replace their previous manager, who didn't take charge for a single…

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Episode 539: River and Boca crash out of the Club World Cup 1:04:57

6M ago1:04:57

1:04:57

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and both Santis (for the first time!) review the group-stage exits of River Plate and Boca Juniors from the Club World Cup, and answer some listeners' questions.By Sam Kelly

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Episode 538: rounding up the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers 1:20:44

6M ago1:20:44

1:20:44

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi Bauzá review Argentina's two World Cup qualifiers – a win away to Chile and a draw at home to Colombia – and cast our eyes over the other games in the campaign as well, with Brazil and Ecuador confirming their places at next year's tournament and Chile eliminated. We also discuss Franco Mastantuono's tra…

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Episode 537: ¡PLATENSE CAMPEÓN! 1:36:39

7M ago1:36:39

1:36:39

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés, Remi and Marcus look back on the final of the Torneo Apertura, which saw Platense crowned champions of Argentina for the first time in their history thanks to a 1–0 win over Huracán in Santiago del Estero in front of a frankly underwhelming number of fans. Remi is a Platense season ticket holder, so gives us his …

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Episode 536: previewing Huracán v Platense in the Torneo Apertura final 1:09:21

7M ago1:09:21

1:09:21

This week on HOP Sam, English Dan, Santi Sourigues and special guest Marcus Haydon review the semifinals of the Liga Profesional Torneo Apertura, which saw Huracán squeeze out Independiente on penalties and Platense get a 1–0 win over San Lorenzo to set up a final in which either El Globo will win their first title in over fifty years or El Calamar…

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Episode 535: someone's title drought is ending, one way or another ... 1:22:37

7M ago1:22:37

1:22:37

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi Sourigues look back on the quarterfinals of the Liga Profesional's Torneo Apertura and forward to this weekend's semifinals. Whoever ends up taking the title now it'll be the end of a length title drought, and for one of the remaining teams it would be their first top-flight title ever.…

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Episode 534: reviewing the Torneo Apertura round of sixteen 1:54:14

7M ago1:54:14

1:54:14

Sam, English Dan, Santi and Andrés have a bumper episode this week, in which we review the eight matches from last weekend's Liga Profesional round of sixteen and preview the quarterfinals, which run from Sunday to Tuesday. We also cast our eyes over the midweek continental action and let you know who Lionel Scaloni's called up from the foreign leg…

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Episode 533: the Apertura group stage comes to an end 1:10:35

8M ago1:10:35

1:10:35

This week Sam, English Dan and Andrés finally have some meaningful football to look forward to, and here we review the final weekend of group stage action in the Liga Profesional de Fútbol Torneo Apertura 2025, and take a look at this weekend's last sixteen fixtures. We also look at how Argentina's representatives in the Copas Sudamericana and Libe…

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Episode 532: Franco Mastantuono puts Boca to the sword in the superclásico 1:26:22

8M ago1:26:22

1:26:22

This week Sam, English Dan, Chris, Andrés and special guest Santi Sourigues review last weekend's action, and in particular Sunday's superclásico, in which Franco Mastantuono was imperious – and scored an astonishing free kick – for River Plate. Boca Juniors manager Fernando Gago became former Boca Juniors manager Fernando Gago after the game, so w…

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Episode 531: (eventually) previewing the superclásico 1:22:11

8M ago1:22:11

1:22:11

River Plate host Boca Juniors on Sunday afternoon, and if you stick around long enough in this episode Sam, English Dan and Andrés eventually remember to preview it. Before that we look back on last weekend's Liga Profesional action – which saw River finally score some goals – review the week's continental results and bid a brief farewell to the mo…

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Episode 530: Boca win again and Racing move into the playoff spots 1:10:15

8M ago1:10:15

1:10:15

This week Sam, English Dan and Andrés review last weekend's Liga Profesional action, which saw Boca Juniors confirm their place in the knockout stage and Racing move into the qualification spots for the first time since (we think) the second round of matches.By Sam Kelly

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Episode 529: Racing and Argentinos win big and Argentina women get a historic result 1:14:42

9M ago1:14:42

1:14:42

This week Sam, English Dan and Andrés look back on a weekend of action that saw big wins for Racing and Argentinos Juniors, more frustration for River Plate and Boca get right back to winning ways – why is Fernando Gago supposedly in trouble, again? As well as this, on Tuesday night Argentina's women's national team got a historic result, beating C…

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Episode 528: Barros Schelotto takes charge of Vélez and the continental copas get underway 1:22:56

9M ago1:22:56

1:22:56

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés, Santi and Fer review a weekend that saw mixed results for all our teams, including Guillermo Barros Schelotto's first defeat – and first victory – as Vélez Sarsfield manager. The group stages of the Copa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores are underway, and we have plenty of listeners' questions (including a coupl…

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Episode 527: Argentina 4–1 Brazil, and a special guest 1:39:22

9M ago1:39:22

1:39:22

This week's HOP is a long one, but not without reason: Sam, English Dan, Santi, Chris and special guest former professional footballer Andrés Gurrieri review Argentina's World Cup 2026 qualification and, more to the point, the 4–1 battering they handed out to Brazil right after their place in next year's tournament was confirmed. We also have some …

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Episode 526: previewing Uruguay v Argentina and Argentina v Brazil 1:18:21

9M ago1:18:21

1:18:21

This week Sam, English Dan, Santi and Andrés review a clásico de Avellaneda that saw the spoils shared and a disappointing result for River Plate, among other league games, before turning our attention to Argentina's two upcoming World Cup qualifiers away to Uruguay on Friday and at home to Brazil on Tuesday. Will the world champions seal their spo…

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Episode 525: Independiente win and Racing lose ahead of the clásico de Avellaneda 1:08:26

10M ago1:08:26

1:08:26

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 we…

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Episode 524: Vélez sack Domínguez and Racing win the Recopa 1:15:11

10M ago1:15:11

1:15:11

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…

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Episode 523: Boca exit the Libertadores and Vélez finally score in 2025! 1:34:51

10M ago1:34:51

1:34:51

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Chris begin with a look at Boca Juniors' elimination from the Copa Libertadores at the second round playoff stage by Alianza Lima, who lost 2–1 on the night but won the penalty shootout. Is Fernando Gago under pressure? Are Boca improving regardless of this setback? We also review last weekend's league action …

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Episode 522: Vélez still winless and Boca's Libertadores campaign begins with defeat 1:27:20

10M ago1:27:20

1:27:20

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 wh…

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Episode 521: A mixed week for ... pretty much everyone 1:25:56

11M ago1:25:56

1:25:56

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 …

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Episode 520: Estudiantes set the pace early on 1:14:32

11M ago1:14:32

1:14:32

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 listen…

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Episode 519: Vélez get their title defence off to an awful start 1:28:26

11M ago1:28:26

1:28:26

This week Sam, English Dan, Chris, Santi and Andrés look back on the first two rounds of the 2025 Apertura, in which the two Avellaneda giants took maximum points, River and Boca both looked rather iffy and champions Vélez Sarsfield lost twice, including managing to let in two goals against Tigre before the season was even ten minutes old. There's …

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Episode 518: the 2025 season is upon us 1:12:55

11M ago1:12:55

1:12:55

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 ...…

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Episode 517: ¡VÉLEZ CAMPEÓN! 1:35:52

1y ago1:35:52

1:35:52

Vélez Sarsfield became the champions of Argentina on Sunday, and in this episode Sam, English Dan, Santi, Chris and Andrés review the final weekend of Liga Profesional matches and look at why Vélez deserved their title and where their rivals – most obviously Talleres and Huracán – fell short. We also ask how River Plate and Boca Juniors need to reb…

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Episode 516: Central Córdoba win the Copa Argentina and previewing the Liga Profesional finale 1:33:27

1y ago1:33:27

1:33:27

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 impressiv…

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Episode 515: ¡Racing campeón de la Sudamericana! 1:39:58

1y ago1:39:58

1:39:58

On Saturday afternoon Racing Club beat Cruzeiro 3–1 in Asunción to lift the Copa Sudamericana, and this week Sam and Andrés are joined by not one but two Racing fans who were in attendance, as English Dan and Seba tell us what their experiences were like and help us review the match. We also look back on Argentina's recent World Cup qualifying doub…

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Episode 514: Racing are in a title race somehow?! 1:19:58

1y ago1:19:58

1:19:58

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.…

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Episode 513: Racing reach the Sudamericana final; Lanús and River fall short 1:20:24

1y ago1:20:24

1:20:24

This week Sam, English Dan, Chris, Andrés and Santi look back on a week that saw Racing reach their first continental final in 32 years by beating Corinthians 2–1 in the Cilindro (in front of Dan and his son) for a 4–3 aggregate win in their Copa Sudamericana semi. In the other semi, Lanús lost (Chris was there), while Tuesday night's astonishing f…

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Episode 512: Continental semifinals and a special guest 1:31:11

1y ago1:31:11

1:31:11

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés, Chris and special guest Chris Lee discuss this week's Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana semifinal first legs, then move on to last weekend's Liga Profesional fixtures and the midweek Copa Argentina matches (of which there were two, in two different rounds of the competition), among many other things.…

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Episode 511: Another Messi hat trick and the rest of the CONMEBOL qualifiers 1:33:55

1y ago1:33:55

1:33:55

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 p…

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Episode 510: League action and Argentina gear up for Venezuela and Bolivia 1:11:13

1y ago1:11:13

1:11:13

Sam, English Dan, Chris and Santi recorded early in the week this time, in order to preview Argentina's two Dibu Martínez-less World Cup qualifiers away to Venezuela on (hopefully) Thursday and at home to Bolivia next Tuesday. We also review the weekend's action in the Liga Profesional and ask whether the AFA are seriously about to cancel relegatio…

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Episode 509: Vélez slip up and Talleres close the gap 1:31:14

1y ago1:31:14

1:31:14

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Chris review a round of Liga Profesional matches that saw Talleres claim an away win over River Plate which, along with Vélez Sarsfield's 3–0 capitulation to Rosario Central a couple of days later, helped them move to within three points of top spot. We also have a look at the latest Argentina squad, news of B…

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Episode 508: River win the superclásico and advance to the Libertadores semis 1:31:24

1y ago1:31:24

1:31:24

Sam, English Dan, Santi, Andrés and Chris got together this week to look back on a good week to be a River Plate fan, after the Millonarios edged Boca Juniors in a tetchy superclásico before getting past Colo-Colo in the Copa Libertadores. Dan is also in a good mood, having watched Racing reach their own continental semifinal in the Sudamericana – …

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Episode 507: Vélez extend their lead, River get their priorities mixed up 1:17:36

1+ y ago1:17:36

1:17:36

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…

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Episode 506: A win and a rare defeat for Argentina ... and the worst Brazil team ever? 1:32:24

1+ y ago1:32:24

1:32:24

This week Sam, English Dan and Andrés look back on a double header of World Cup qualifying action that saw Argentina beat Chile and lose the Copa América final rematch to Colombia, while Uruguay drew 0–0 twice in a row, Brazil continued to struggle and Bolivia – Bolivia! – were the only team to win both their games, including their first away win i…

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Episode 505: Vélez go top as we head into the international break 1:12:50

1+ y ago1:12:50

1:12:50

Vélez Sarsfield have hit a fine run of form, and this week Sam, English Dan and Andrés look back on a weekend that saw them open up a little daylight at the top of the league thanks to Huracán dropping points. There was a ridiculous red card for one of Godoy Cruz's medics, River Plate still can't win (or lose) domestically under Marcelo Gallardo an…

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Episode 504: Independiente hold Racing in the clásico 1:30:52

1+ y ago1:30:52

1:30:52

This week Sam, English Dan and Santi look back on an Avellaneda clásico that saw Independiente battle to a goalless draw away to Racing. We also discuss Vélez Sarsfield going joint top with Huracán, the possibility of Athletic Club de Bilbao legend Iker Muniain signing for San Lorenzo and plenty more besides.…

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Episode 503: Huracán still top the league, and Gallardo is back 1:26:01

1+ y ago1:26:01

1:26:01

This week Sam, English Dan and Andrés review two weeks of Liga Profesional action which saw Huracán hold on to top spot in the league while Marcelo Gallardo seemed to announce his return to River Plate by doing the same thing he always did before: winning in continental competition but struggling (or taking it less seriously?) domestically. We also…

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Episode 502: Bou's golazo is the highlight in a weekend with a lot of draws 1:08:04

1+ y ago1:08:04

1:08:04

This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi review a round of Liga Profesional action that saw a lot of draws, but Walter Bou rescued us from yet another with perhaps the best goal of the weekend anywhere in the world to give Lanús a 90th-minute winner over Tigre. Marcelo Gallardo has been unveiled as River Plate manager and as if things weren't b…