Torneo TransiciГіn Preview: Back Boca to put Gimnasia to the sword on Sunday night

Boca are in action against Gimnasia on Sunday night

It's the last day of the Argentine season, and while River Plate and Racing Club will decide the title next week, the rest will jostle for position right now. Here's Ed Malyon to talk you through it...

Atletico Rafaela vs Arsenal de Sarand
Saturday, 20:00

Arsenal's horrendous away record - just four points all season and the worst goals per game conceded - make this one look cut and dried against a Rafaela side that are traditionally strong in front of their own fans.

But if there is one team that can't wait for this season to be over (apart from maybe losing cup finalists Rosario Central) then it is Atletico.

With five defeats in their last seven they have fallen pretty heavily from what, at one point, threatened to be an unlikely title challenge. Once that went out the window the side appeared to down tools and what has been seen since - barring perhaps the San Lorenzo performance - has been shocking. 

It's almost over, just 90 more minutes of torture for the players to endure before they can hit the beaches and forget about a season ruined. 

But Arsenal will fancy themselves in this one. Martin Palermo's not a coach to let things slip and he'll smell blood in this one. They've also not failed to score much this season, just once in their last seven games, so they can make a game of things up in Santa Fe. With Rafaela only just longer than evens they offer no temptation whatsoever, so we're laying the hosts.

Recommended Bet

Lay At. Rafaela at 2.1411/10

Boca Juniors vs Gimnasia La Plata
Sunday, 23:30

This Boca Juniors team looks, on paper, to be one of their worst in possibly a decade but they still go into the final game of the season looking at a best-scenario third-placed finish.

That's a remarkable achievement for this rag-tag bunch of players, but maybe what has been so effective about them is that it's the most average team they have had in a while. Instead of having stars mixed with cheap buys and youth products, most of the current crop are players proven in the league and with a bit of experience without having to pander to the needs of any one (or two) superstars.

That had been the case in previous seasons - not least with Juan Roman Riquelme - and new coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena looks to be building a solid base to a side that bears his stamp.

Boca 1.8810/11 are ten points better off than this week's opponents Gimnasia - but they won't have an easy ride. Only their archrivals River Plate have a better defence this season than the La Plata side, and it has hardly been a vintage year for the hosts' attack, with top-scorer Jonathan Calleri having notched just six league strikes.

Obviously, given Gimnasia's position, you can tell that they're no Harlem Globetrotters themselves. In fact, they're a side virtually bereft of attacking talent and find themselves with the worst scoring record in the division. Worse even than rock-bottom Quilmes, who have won just twice. 

The obvious bet for this boxing match between two limbless men may well be the unders, but with 1.574/7 the going rate on the 2.5 line there's little temptation with the variance of a final-day fixture.

No, for all their faults we are edging with the home side, whose price is approaching evens and appears slightly generous. With just four goals away from home in the entire campaign, Gimnasia have obviously had little to cheer, and with Arruabarrena still fighting to show his worth for next year this Boca side do actually have something to play for.

With no relegation, Gimnasia (5.04/1) don't. And even the slightest lapse in concentration levels, resulting from that, will weaken even a good defence.

Recommended Bet

Back Boca at 1.8810/11