In the twelfth round of the Apertura, Racing Club clinched a valuable victory on the road, defeating Belgrano 2-1. The match began with Racing taking the lead in the 30th minute thanks to a goal from Adrián Fernández. However, Belgrano pushed back and equalized in the 54th minute with a well-placed shot by Lucas Zelarayán. But the visitors sealed their win with a header from Marco Di Césare in the 61st minute.
In a pivotal moment, Nicolás Fernández missed a penalty for Belgrano just before halftime, which could have changed the course of the match.
Marco Di Césare was the standout player, making significant contributions by scoring a goal and clearing three dangerous balls from his area. Meanwhile, Racing’s Santiago Sosa also had a notable performance, completing 51 successful passes and winning back possession six times.
Emiliano Rigoni from Belgrano showcased his skills, particularly in the first half when he skillfully maneuvered past Racing’s Tomás Conechny with a nutmeg at the 24-minute mark.
Belgrano’s head coach, Ricardo Zielinski, opted for a 4-5-1 formation with Thiago Cardozo in goal; Alcides Benitez, Leonardo Morales, Álvaro Ocampo, and Federico Ricca in defense; Adrián Sánchez, Franco Vázquez, Emiliano Rigoni, Lucas Zelarayán, and Julián Mavilla in midfield; and Nicolás Fernández at the forefront.
On the other hand, Racing Club, managed by Gustavo Costas, set up in a 4-5-1 formation as well, featuring Facundo Cambeses in goal; Ezequiel Cannavó, Marco Di Césare, Marcos Rojo, and Gabriel Rojas in defense; Bruno Zuculini, Santiago Sosa, Gastón Martirena, Adrián Fernández, and Tomás Conechny in midfield; with Santiago Solari leading the attack.
The match, held at the Gigante de Alberdi, was overseen by referee Andrés Merlos.
Looking ahead, Belgrano will face River Plate in their next match, while Racing Club will visit Independiente in what promises to be another thrilling edition of the Avellaneda derby.
Substitutions for Belgrano
45’ 2T – Emiliano Rigoni was replaced by Ramiro Hernández
74’ 2T – Leonardo Morales was substituted by Juan Velázquez and Julián Mavilla by Lucas Passerini
Yellow Cards for Belgrano:
16’ 1T – Lucas Zelarayán (Insulting or disapproving the referee), 14’ 2T – Alcides Benitez (Arguing with an opponent), 33’ 2T – Franco Vázquez (Unsportsmanlike behavior)
Substitutions for Racing Club
59’ 2T – Bruno Zuculini was replaced by Alan Forneris, Santiago Solari by Adrián Martínez, and Nicolás Fernández by Lautaro Gutiérrez
66’ 2T – Marcos Rojo was substituted by Franco Pardo
84’ 2T – Marco Di Césare by Nazareno Colombo and Adrián Fernández by Agustín García Basso
Yellow Cards for Racing Club:
24’ 1T – Gabriel Rojas (Unsportsmanlike behavior), 14’ 2T – Alan Forneris (Arguing with an opponent), 47’ 2T – Adrián Martínez (Arguing with an opponent)