HISTORICAL RIVALRY BETWEEN INDEPENDIENTE AND SAN LORENZO
El Rojo and El Ciclón share a rivalry that spans more than a century, with the balance narrowly favoring the Avellaneda club. This clash sits at the heart of Argentine football lore, shaping countless chapters of the country’s domestic scene and reminding fans of how one rivalry can write multiple generations of memories. The roots of this rivalry go deep into the early days of organized competition, and the story continues to evolve with every match and milestone.
Independiente and San Lorenzo are two of the most emblematic clubs in Argentine football. Their rivalry stretches back across more than a hundred years, tracing to their first meeting in the 1915 championship, a 3-0 triumph for the Avellaneda side. While that initial encounter is remembered as one of the less heated among the country’s historic giants, San Lorenzo would later claim a pivotal moment when, in 2013, they were the team that sealed Independiente’s descent to the Nacional B. This long arc has shaped a dynamic that still excites fans each time the teams meet.
The duelo between El Diablo and El Santo continues. They are set to play at the Nuevo Gasómetro on Saturday, April 1, with kickoff at 7 pm, as Boedo hosts a challenge to end a five-match winless run against Independiente. The most recent victory by San Lorenzo over Independiente in their head-to-head record was a 1-0 win in the 2017-18 Libertadores era at the Libertadores de América, courtesy of Rubén Botta.
Next: See the full history between Independiente and San Lorenzo. — Goal
HISTORY IN THE LOCAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Though some fans from both clubs sometimes downplay the amateur era, the fact remains that San Lorenzo and Independiente have faced each other regularly in the First Division since 1915. After the competition became professional, the rivalry appeared 19 times in the top flight, with San Lorenzo opening a narrow lead early on. However, Independiente surged and, beginning in 1931, regained the upper hand and now holds a series advantage.
The most recent league clash occurred on the opening date of the 2022 Professional League, ending in a 1-1 draw at the Nuevo Gasómetro with goals from Adam Bareiro and Leandro Benegas.
HISTORY IN NATIONAL CUPS
El Cuervo and El Diablo first faced off in the National Cup back in 1917, during the Jockey Club Competition Cup, and later met multiple times during the early professional era. The two did not cross paths for many years after a 1958 Swedish Cup group-stage meeting, a gap of 65 years without direct head-to-heads.
Their only final meeting in a national cup came in the 1939 Adrián Escobar Cup, where the teams drew 0-0 in regular time and 1-1 after extra time, forcing a replay that Independiente won 2-0.
HISTORY IN INTERNATIONAL CUPS
Despite a long history at the domestic level, San Lorenzo and Independiente have met only once in international competition: during the second stage of the 1973 Copa Libertadores. Independiente secured a 1-0 victory in Avellaneda after a 2-2 draw at the Estadio Pedro B. Carbo in the first leg, earning their place in the final.
GENERAL HISTORY
When all official matches between San Lorenzo and Independiente are tallied—across domestic leagues, national cups, and international competitions—Independiente holds a slight edge with more wins, reflecting a long-standing balance of power between these two giants of Argentine football.
Source: Goal