BUENOS AIRES ( Associated Press) — Favorites, but not invincible, Boca Juniors and River Plate will face Defense and Justice and Tigre, respectively, for the quarterfinals of the Professional League Cup, which before being played caused controversy due to its programming.
In principle, the Bocans should receive the “Halcón” on Tuesday at the La Bombonera stadium. But the visitor refuses to play that day because he alleges that he did not have enough rest and asked to postpone the duel. While Boca played their last game of the opening round on Saturday, Defense did so on Sunday.
“It is not a logical rest for a squad that has to appear in a definitive instance. Our position is not to play”, warned Diego Lemme, president of Defense, interviewed on Monday by the TyC Sports channel.
When asked why he had not previously filed a formal complaint about the scheduling of matches, Lemme replied that “by cabal”, since his club had not yet qualified for the quarterfinals.
The postponement request collides with the refusal of the Buenos Aires mayor’s office to organize a security operation on the same day for Boca and River, which on Wednesday receives Tigre at the Monumental stadium.
“We are not going to put the residents of the city at risk for sporting issues that are valuable, but we have the responsibility to do things well,” said Guillermo Madero, executive director of the soccer security committee in the capital, on radio. Network.
Rescheduling Boca-Defense for Thursday was ruled out because the semifinals of the contest are scheduled for Saturday.
Until after noon on Monday, the Defense request had not been echoed in the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
After three consecutive victories, two for the championship and another for the Copa Libertadores, the Boca coach Sebastián Battaglia came out stronger and cleared up, at least for now, the doubts about his continuity in the position.
However, he shouldn’t underestimate the damaging power of Defensa, a team made up of players mostly discarded by Boca and River who earned the respect of rivals for their attacking style under Sebastian Beccacece.
Tigre, for its part, had the great merit of being ranked among the top four in its area in the first season after being promoted to the highest category. He has to measure himself against the last champion River, who took a few dates to find the best version of him and today he is the great favorite to win the cup.
The other candidate is Racing Club, the only undefeated team in the competition, which will receive Aldosivi on Tuesday. It will be the cross between two coaches with a winning past as Boca players: Fernando Gago and Martín Palermo, respectively.
Meanwhile, Estudiantes, the highest scoring team in the regular phase with 33 goals, will collide on Wednesday with Argentinos Juniors.
The quarterfinals will be played in a single match at the stadium of the best placed in the regular phase. In case of a tie, they will be defined by penalties.
River or Tigre will meet in the next instance against the winner of Estudiantes-Tigre. Mouth or Defense of the survivor of Racing-Aldosivi.
The final is scheduled for May 22 at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in Córdoba.
