Hand Of Pod
Hand Of Pod covers the world of Argentine football, from the domestic league to the national team. Sam Kelly and a rotating cast of friends give weekly updates during the season on what's happening on and off the pitch.
Episodios
Episode 580: Two Argentine finalists in the continental cups
This week Sam, English Dan, Santi B and Andrés look back on the clásico de Avellaneda and the rest of last weekend's Torneo Clausura action before reviewing the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores, which saw first Boca Juniors and then Estudiantes de La Plata advance in the Maracanã.
Episode 579: The Clausura group stage end game begins
This week Sam, English Dan, Chris and Andrés discuss the beginning of the end game in the 2026 Torneo Clausura group stage, with Estudiantes de Río Cuarto's relegation confirming that we're reaching the business end. The continental semifinals are also well underway.
Episode 578: Messi's final Argentina match
This week Sam, Andrés, Chris and English Dan look back on Argentina's farewell to Lionel Messi, as he scored his 126th goal in his 208th – and last – match for the national team in a 3–0 win over Benin. What signs has this international break given us for the future of the national team? Why are the AFA so bad at organising things? And what happened last weekend in the top flight?
Episode 577: River return to AFA ExCom as the Clausura starts to take shape
Sam, English Dan, Chris, Santi B and Andrés met this week to discuss the movers and shakers in the group stage of the 2026 Torneo Clausura group stage, because most of the way in it's now finally worth discussing who might and might not make the cut for the next stage. Elsewhere, Estudiantes de La Plata are through to the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores, and off the pitch River Plate have retu
Episode 576: We need to talk about Racing
This week Sam, Chris, Andrés and English Dan do something Dan would rather not do, and discuss Racing's recent form. The group stage standings are starting to look meaningful now, and while they're not mathematically out of it, it seems unlikely Racing will be involved in the knockout stage. We also have a look at the Copa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores quarterfinals, which have concluded sinc
Episode 575: River's Ponzio scheme has started well
This week Sam, English Dan, Chris and Andrés discuss a second win in a row for Leonardo Ponzio's River Plate, an entertaining draw between Gimnasia de Mendoza and Boca Juniors and defeat for Racing at home to Atlético Tucumán. We also cover the correct ways to refer to Atlético Tucumán and Independiente Rivadavia (de Mendoza) and have a look at some of the continental games and Copa Argentina act
Episode 574: Lionel Messi retires from international football
This week Sam, English Dan, Chris, Santi B and Santi S discuss a piece of news that in normal circumstances would be the biggest of our week – Eduardo Coudet's sacking as River Plate manager – before turning our attention to the main event: Lionel Messi's retirement from the Argentina national team after 207 matches, 125 goals, two Copas América and that glorious 2022 World Cup.
Episode 573: Coudet in hot water and Independiente underwhelm
This week's episode was recorded on Wednesday, before Eduardo Coudet was sacked as River Plate manager the day after they went out of the Copa Sudamericana. Sam, English Dan and Santi B review last weekend's action, which included River throwing away a 2–0 lead to draw at home to Vélez Sarsfield in what turned out to be Coudet's penultimate match. We also hear from Santi about what's going wrong a
Episode 572: River finally win and Boca advance in the Sudamericana
This week Sam, English Dan, Chris and Andrés review last weekend's Liga Profesional action, which saw River Plate finally win a match – 2–0 against in-form Argentinos Juniors, no less. Boca Juniors cruised through their Copa Sudamericana tie and Argentine champions Belgrano got a good win over Independiente Rivadavia. All this and much more right here!
Episode 571: Argentinos look good, River look very bad and the Copas are well underway
This week Sam, Andrés, Chris and English Dan look at yet another defeat for River Plate, whose boss Eduardo Coudet is under a lot of pressure now. This weekend River play Argentinos Juniors, and that doesn't look good for Coudet because Argentinos are in fine form. Huracán beat San Lorenzo in the clásico, and the knockout stages of the Copas Sudamericana and Libertadores are well underway.
Episode 570: What is going on at River Plate? And there are 29 other teams in the top flight ...
The Torneo Clausura 2026 is well underway and this week Sam, English Dan, Chris and Andrés meet to ask what on earth is going on at River Plate, who've lost five (competitive) games in a row for the first time since 1911(!) thanks in part to a sporting director who's also being blamed for the current mess at Olympique Marseille. They're not the only team in the top flight, though, so we also round
Episode 569: the 2026 World Cup post-mortem ... and what's next for Argentina?
This week Sam, Chris, Andrés and Santi B look back on the 2026 World Cup final, and the tournament as a whole. Just what were Argentina trying to do on Sunday, and why didn't it work? Why did they struggle to get going all through the tournament? And as the nation looks to the next chapter for the national team, what changes are around the corner for Lionel Scaloni, Lionel Messi and the rest?
Episode 568: how Argentina beat England and previewing the 2026 World Cup final
Argentina are in another World Cup final, and here Sam, Chris, Andrés and special guest Rob Adcock review their semifinal win over England and preview Sunday's final against Spain in Not New York.
Episode 567: previewing Argentina v England in the World Cup semifinal
Saturday saw Argentina beat Switzerland and England beat Norway to set up a potential World Cup semifinal for the ages. Sam, Chris, Andrés and Santi B review the nervy extra time victory over Switzerland and preview Argentina v England.
Episode 566: Argentina just refuse to make it easy for themselves
This week Sam, Chris, Andrés and Julián sit down to attempt to analyse Argentina's advancement to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, which came courtesy of an impossibly nervy 3–2 win over Cape Verde that was followed by a 3–2 win over Egypt that somehow managed to be even more impossibly nervy.
Episode 565: Argentina coast through 2026 World Cup group J
We're back! Sam, Chris, Andrés and Santi S review Argentina's near-perfect start to their attempt to defend the World Cup title, after they got nine points from three matches and conceded just once in group J. We ask whether Lionel Messi is any good at football (he might be), look at the defence and midfield and run the rule over the other CONMEBOL representatives.
Episode 564: Independiente Rivadavia win the clásico and Boca thrash Defensa
This week Sam, English Dan, Chris, Andrés and Santi B discuss a clásico mendocino that didn't go as expected for the first twenty seconds, but went very much to form thereafter as Independiente Rivadavia ran out 5–1 winners over Gimnasia de Mendoza. Boca Juniors also got a four-goal winning margin, while Riestra and River Plate both won by a couple. The playoff qualifiers aren't quite decided as w
Episode 563: Boca win the superclásico and ... are Newell's good now?
This week Sam, English Dan, Chris, Andrés and Santi S gather to discuss a superclásico win for Boca Juniors that was narrow – and might have escaped them had a refereeing call right at the death gone the other way – but deserved, as Chacho Coudet's reign at River Plate hits its first bump in the road. Elsewhere there was another win for Newell's Old Boys, who seem to have remembered how to play fo
Episode 562: River and Boca can both look forward to the superclásico
This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi S look at last week's league results and the midweek continental matches, both of which brought positive results for River Plate and Boca Juniors ahead of Sunday's superclásico. It was also a great week for Independiente Rivadavia.
Episode 561: Independiente win the clásico and the continental group stages begin
This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés, Santi S and Santi B discuss half a round of Torneo Apertura action that saw Independiente scrape a win over Racing in the clásico and – we hope you're sitting down for this – Newell's Old Boys win a second league game in a row. We also go over the action from the opening week of Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana group stage matches.
Episode 560: Scaloni edges closer to finalising Argentina's World Cup squad
This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés, Santi B and Santi S look back on Argentina's two friendly wins in the Bombonera over Mauritania and Zambia. We discuss how encouraging or discouraging the performances were, which players have done themselves favours (or done themselves no favours at all) in terms of getting into the squad for the World Cup and who we think will ultimately make the cut. We also
Episode 559: Two teams hit five and the Copa Sudamericana group draw
This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi S get together to discuss a round of Apertura action that saw both Lanús and Defensa y Justicia hit five goals (not against each other), Coudet's River claim another win and Independiente Rivadavia get back to winning ways. We also give our reactions to the Copa Sudamericana group stage, which took place while we were recording the second half.
If you
Episode 558: Fedorco rescues a dramatic point for Independiente
This week Sam, English Dan, Chris and Andrés look back on a midweek round of action that began with a wild draw in Avellaneda between Independiente and Unión, continued with a dull one in Junín between Sarmiento and Racing and ended (from our point of view recording before Estudiantes de La Plata v Lanús) with Eduardo Coudet winning his first match in charge of River Plate. All this and more await
Episode 557: A week in the life of Chiqui Tapia
This week Sam, English Dan and Andrés discuss a draw for River Plate in their last match prior to Eduardo Coudet's arrival as head coach, a good win for Racing and some cracking goals in Parque Patricios, but the main topic is a ridiculously dramatic week in the life of AFA President Claudio Tapia.
Episode 556: Gallardo leaves River and Lanús win the Recopa Sudamericana
This week Sam, English Dan, Chris, Santi B and special guest Joey D'Urso look back on (almost) two whole rounds of Torneo Apertura action, which saw Marcelo Gallardo step down as River Plate manager, signing off with a 3–1 win over Banfield, Independiente Rivadavia continue their excellent start to the season and Independiente (de Avellaneda) have a torrid week in Mendoza (not for the first time)
Episode 555: River scrape through in the Copa Argentina and Gimnasia finally draw
This week Sam, English Dan, Chris and Andrés look at River Plate's highly dignified win over Ciudad Bolívar in the Copa Argentina, a very dull La Plata derby that ended in Gimnasia's first draw in 22 matches and continued good league starts for Tigre and Independiente among others.
Episode 554: Gallardo in hot water at River but Tigre are off to a fine start
This week Sam and English Dan review a couple of matches for some teams but just the one for most of them. It's been a poor week for River Plate, where Marcelo Gallardo is coming under pressure, but a great one for Tigre , who've made a flying start to the year. We also look at Racing's inconsistency, Boca Juniors' consistent inconsistency and more.
Episode 553: reviewing the start of the Apertura
This week Sam, Santi B and Andrés cast their eyes over the first three rounds of league action in the 2026 Torneo Apertura, which have seen consistency (if nothing else) from Independiente, early group leads for Lanús and Independiente Rivadavia, and Juan Fernando Quintero playing like it's 2015 again for River Plate.
Episode 552: previewing the 2026 Torneo Apertura
We're back for 2026, and this week Sam, English Dan, Andrés, Santi B and Santi S look back over the summer break and the main transfer moves in Argentina and look forward to 2026 in Argentine football, including discussing whether anyone should really care about the league this year.
Episode 551: ¡ESTUDIANTES CAMPEÓN!
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 besides, get over to our Patreon: https://patreon.c
Episode 550: Racing and Estudiantes edge two dull semifinals and the 2026 Liga takes shape
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.
Episode 549: two clásicos in the Clausura semifinals
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 CONMEBOL Liga de Naciones (whose name also contains t
Episode 548: Estudiantes in hot water as the Clausura playoffs begin
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 suspended. Elsewhere, Racing are through after a wond
Episode 547: an unexpected 'title' for Central and plenty of catching up to do
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 was being contested. So nothing out of the ordinary
Episode 546: Chaos at Independiente v U de Chile, but success for Argentina's Libertadores sides
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 the last eight. And we have one last look at the
Episode 545: Marcos Rojo moves to Racing ... but how much will he play?
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 year.
Episode 544: a Copa Argentina special
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 over to our Patreon for far more detail with Tony)
Episode 543: not a lot of goals
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 discuss as well.
Episode 542: Another Di María penalty, another big win for River
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 Leandro Paredes claim an assist on his second debut for
Episode 541: a wild finish at the Cilindro, champions Platense lose to River and more
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 Boca ground out a stalemate.
Episode 540: previewing the 2025 Torneo Clausura
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 game? And most important of all: who will be the
Episode 539: River and Boca crash out of the Club World Cup
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.
Episode 538: rounding up the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers
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 transfer to Real Madrid and answer listeners' questio
Episode 537: ¡PLATENSE CAMPEÓN!
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 take on their campaign, and we also have updates i
Episode 536: previewing Huracán v Platense in the Torneo Apertura final
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 will win their first ever. We also take a look at
Episode 535: someone's title drought is ending, one way or another ...
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.
Episode 534: reviewing the Torneo Apertura round of sixteen
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 legion for Argentina's next two World Cup qualifiers.
Episode 533: the Apertura group stage comes to an end
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 Libertadores got on.
Episode 532: Franco Mastantuono puts Boca to the sword in the superclásico
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 we also ask what's next for them.
Episode 531: (eventually) previewing the superclásico
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 most footballing pope ever.
Episode 530: Boca win again and Racing move into the playoff spots
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.
Episode 529: Racing and Argentinos win big and Argentina women get a historic result
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 Canada 1–0 in a friendly.
Episode 528: Barros Schelotto takes charge of Vélez and the continental copas get underway
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 couple Sam forgot last week).
Episode 527: Argentina 4–1 Brazil, and a special guest
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 talk about the few domestic matches that have been
Episode 526: previewing Uruguay v Argentina and Argentina v Brazil
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 spot before we next record?
Episode 525: Independiente win and Racing lose ahead of the clásico de Avellaneda
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 524: Vélez sack Domínguez and Racing win the Recopa
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 w
Episode 523: Boca exit the Libertadores and Vélez finally score in 2025!
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 and give live reaction as Vélez Sarsfield score th
Episode 522: Vélez still winless and Boca's Libertadores campaign begins with defeat
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 521: A mixed week for ... pretty much everyone
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 show
Episode 520: Estudiantes set the pace early on
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 519: Vélez get their title defence off to an awful start
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 good news from the Sudamericano Sub 20 and plenty
Episode 518: the 2025 season is upon us
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 517: ¡VÉLEZ CAMPEÓN!
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 rebuild for 2025, among other matters.
Episode 516: Central Córdoba win the Copa Argentina and previewing the Liga Profesional finale
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 hop
Episode 515: ¡Racing campeón de la Sudamericana!
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 double header, which saw a defeat away to Paraguay and
Episode 514: Racing are in a title race somehow?!
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 513: Racing reach the Sudamericana final; Lanús and River fall short
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 firework show at the Monumental was much more spect
Episode 512: Continental semifinals and a special guest
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.
Episode 511: Another Messi hat trick and the rest of the CONMEBOL qualifiers
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 510: League action and Argentina gear up for Venezuela and Bolivia
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 relegation from the top flight this year after all.
Episode 509: Vélez slip up and Talleres close the gap
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 Boca Juniors sacking their manager, Iker Muniain sc
Episode 508: River win the superclásico and advance to the Libertadores semis
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 – their first international semi since 1997 – and La
Episode 507: Vélez extend their lead, River get their priorities mixed up
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
Episode 506: A win and a rare defeat for Argentina ... and the worst Brazil team ever?
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 in World Cup qualifying since 1993.
Episode 505: Vélez go top as we head into the international break
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 and we've a World Cup qualifying double header to lo
Episode 504: Independiente hold Racing in the clásico
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.
Episode 503: Huracán still top the league, and Gallardo is back
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 have a review of the Sudamericana and Libertadore
Episode 502: Bou's golazo is the highlight in a weekend with a lot of draws
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 bad enough for Independiente, cracks are appearing
Episode 501: River bring back Gallardo and Julián Álvarez finally fails to win something
This week Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Santi review last weekend's action in the Liga Profesional, which includes wiping some egg off our faces after the thing we said last week surely wouldn't actually happen – River Plate sacking Martín Demichelis – happened within hours of HOP500 going online. In other news, Argentina's Olympic team were eliminated just before we recorded, meaning Julián Álvare
