The worst news San Lorenzo he received it as soon as he found out that Students he would assume the game with the most alternative team possible: of the starters who played on Thursday for the Copa Libertadores in Brazil against Atlético Paranaense, only one repeated: Luciano Lollo. The rest, he stayed on the bench awaiting revenge on Thursday in La Plata. In this way, the weight of the game fell on the diminished Barça backs. And that is not the best thing for the team led by Rubén Insúa at this time.
San Lorenzo once again noticed everything that it lacks in terms of play and depth. He was closer to victory because he had the few arrivals of a closed, fought and locked match. But the crowd that arrived at the Pedro Bidegain stadium left again disappointed: the final 0-0 was the eighth draw in twelve dates and of fourteen games played at home so far this year, they only beat Boca. Facing next year’s cups, it is six points (32 to 38) behind Huracán, the last one that is entering the South American. That is the only possible goal: thinking about the championship is an unattainable dream for the Cyclone. Although he is eight points behind Atlético Tucumán. And there are 45 left to play.
The deployment of Fernández Mercau and Barrios on the left was the main trump card for San Lorenzo. And that was enough to overcome Students during the first 20 minutes of the first half and almost the entire second. But not to win. A shot by Cerutti that hit the left post, a volley by Elías that went over the crossbar, two shots by Martegani and Cerutti from outside and a header by Martegani from very close that Pourtau, the Estudiantes goalkeeper, knew how to hit with fairness represented the few situations that could be created. Usually the domain was sterilized at the last passage. There was a lack of clarity to give a better closure to the plays. And to dislodge the crowded line of five with which Students defended themselves throughout the afternoon.
They did not even reach the income of Martegani, Vombergar and Leguizamón for Maroni, Bareiro and Barrios to solve the creative problems of San Lorenzo that at this point in the tournament, already seem insurmountable. His fans, much calmer since the election date was set for next December 17, recognize that Insúa accommodated a team that was tumbling and that already has six dates without losing. But they know that no more than this can be claimed.
Students fulfilled Zielinski’s plans to the letter. The game was a pretext to get to Thursday’s rematch with Paranaense intact and that’s how he faced it. With so little offensive conviction that he never approached the San Lorenzo area. Rollheiser in the first half and Zapiola in the second were the only ones who dared to play. The rest just wanted to fight. And so, fighting he built a 0 to 0 that, like San Lorenzo, left him empty-handed.