Fernando Romero Nuñez 
Argentine football is back in full swing. After a one-month break following the end of the Liga Profesional in the first semester, the season starts its wrap up with the Copa de la Liga Profesional. These are some of the best plays and goals of the first week of competition.
Boca’s teamwork pays off
Although Boca is one of two Argentine sides still competing in the Copa Libertadores (the other being their quarterfinal rivals, Racing Club), the Xeneizes still need a good showing in the Copa de la Liga Profesional after derby rivals River Plate won the first tournament of the season.
The team led by coach Jorge Almirón played its first game against Platense at La Bombonera and showed its class very quickly. Just before the 30 minute mark, Exequiel Zeballos finished off a great team play to score the opener in a passing move that had nothing to envy the play of the best teams in the world.
Aguirre dances away from defenders
Another team with a lot to play for is Newell’s Old Boys. After falling to Brazilian side Corinthians in the Copa Sudamericana this year, the Rosario side is looking to climb positions and get in to the 2024 cup.
The side led by Gabriel Heinze is looking to build up some steam after their irregular play all season long, and few better ways to do it than with golazos like this one by Brian Aguirre.
The 20-year-old, who showed his class with Argentina in the Under 20 World Cup, keeps impressing with moves like these in the Argentine championship.
The Uruguayan Matador scores his first
The announcement of Edinson Cavani as a new Boca Juniors player was the biggest move of the Argentine transfer window. The Uruguayan, who had long spoken about his dream of wearing the Xeneize jersey, had already debuted in Boca’s 2-2 tie in the Copa Libertadores against Nacional, but had failed to score.
The wait didn’t take long, however, as in only his second match the former Napoli and PSG striker got his first goal.
A pure striker’s goal, Cavani took advantage of a long, floated cross by Exequiel Zeballos to tap a header in from inside the six yard box. However, he did not celebrate climbing the wiring as he claimed to have dreamed off.
Palavecino’s diving header
Liga Profesional champions River Plate didn’t have the best of debuts. The team led by Martín Demichelis visited Argentinos Juniors at their Diego Armando Maradona stadium in La Paternal looking to regain confidence after its Copa Libertadores elimination, but things didn’t go well.
After falling behind early on, it managed to tie 1-1 thanks to a diving header inside the box by midfielder Agustín Palavecino.
River managed to take the lead 2-1, but Argentinos recovered with two goals by striker Luciano Gondou to win 3-2 and extend the Millonarios’s misery.
Long range effort by Medina to wrap it up
The best showing of the matchday was undoubtedly at La Bombonera. Not only did Boca win 3-1, but all three goals were worthy of notice. While Zeballos’ opener took all the spotlight, the last one by Cristian Medina also deserves some admiration.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who had already assisted Zeballos in the opener, took the ball outside the box in the dying moments of the game and hit a long range bomb to make it 3-1 and wrap up the game.
