Boca Juniors put one hand onto the Apertura title with a 3-1 win over their nearest challengers Atletico Rafaela, giving themselves a nine point cushion with six games to go. Third-placed Racing Club drew yet again, this time against Estudiantes, to fall 10 points behind Boca. Elsewhere, Velez Sarsfield lost for the first time in five league games and San Lorenzo's clash with All Boys was postponed before a ball had been kicked after Jonathan Bottinelli had been punched by a barra brava before the game.
Argentinos Juniors opened the weekend's action with a 3-1 victory against Velez Sarsfield, taking the lead through Santiago Salcedo in first half injury time. Velez's Sebastian Dominguez scored an own goal 10 minutes after the break to double Argentinos' lead, but Guillermo Franco pulled one back when he headed Emiliano Papa's free kick past Nereo Fernandez. However, Velez keeper Marcelo Barovero was sent off with 20 minutes to go for a foul on German Basualdo, and Salcedo stepped up to convert the resulting penalty. Velez later went down to nine men when Fernando Tobio received a second yellow card in stoppage time.
Newell's Old Boys and Olimpo shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw - Newell's went ahead in the 47th minute when Santiago Vergini converted a penalty, and it was 2-0 through Maximiliano Urruti's strike on the hour mark. Olimpo didn't lie down though and soon halved the deficit, Martin Rolle converting a loose ball from 12 yards after a fortuitous slice from Julio Furch. Then, three minutes from time, Olimpo equalised - Andre Fronzoia put in a low cross from the right hand side and Adrian Lucero was on hand to turn home from close range. Independiente have struggled for goals this term, and this weekend was no different as they played out a 0-0 draw against Arsenal.
Lanus picked up a much needed win over Godoy Cruz to end their winless streak of six games, taking the lead in the 25th minute through Paolo Goltz's back post header. Guido Pizarro put through his own net just after half time to put Godoy Cruz level, but Lanus rallied and 10 minutes from time their efforts were rewarded when Mario Regueiro converted Silvio Romero's low centre to give them a 2-1 win. Boca Juniors extended their lead at the top of the table with a comfortable win over Atletico Rafaela, going ahead after six minutes through Nicolas Blandi. Blandi then notched a second 10 minutes later when he latched onto Pablo Mouche's through pass and slid his shot past the stranded Guillermo Sara. Cristian Chavez made it 3-0 deep into the second half when he finished well from a narrow angle, and though Alexis Castro pulled one back for Rafaela with two minutes remaining it was only a consolation goal.
Belgrano lost 1-0 at home to Colon, with the only goal coming from an Esteban Fuertes penalty. Goalkeeper Juan Olave clearly fouled Fuertes in the penalty area, and Fuertes stepped up to fire an unstoppable penalty past Olave to give his side the points. Union and Tigre shared the points in a 1-1 draw; Tigre went ahead in the 68th minute through Javier Carrasco's diving header, but Union pulled level just five minutes later when Juan Pablo Avendano headed home from a corner. Roman Martinez was later shown a second yellow card for Tigre, who ended the game with 10 men.
Estudiantes and Racing Club drew 0-0 in a game that saw another two red cards; Rodrigo Brana (Estudiantes) and Lucas Aveldano (Racing) were both given their marching orders. The draw is Racing's fifth in a row, and their eighth in 10 games. San Martin overcame Banfield 2-1 to round off the weekend, going ahead in the 11th minute through Gaston Caprari's hooked effort after a scramble in the penalty area. Sebastian Penco doubled the lead five minutes before half time when he lashed home a penalty, and although Jonatan Gomez pulled one back for el Taladro four minutes from time, it was too little too late.
Week 13 Results (click on result for highlights)
Argentinos Juniors 3-1 Velez Sarsfield
Boca Juniors 3-1 Atletico Rafaela
Estudiantes 0-0 Racing Club
Independiente 0-0 Arsenal
