The home team fell short again, failing to seal the win in the closing moments of the clean and jerk phase, leaving the results just out of reach for advancement.
Once more, the sounds of the Cilindro de Avellaneda echoed through the stadium during a match that counted toward the Professional League Tournament, a game that seemed to mark the halfway point of the season as the club faced a challenging path forward. Racing endured a second consecutive home defeat and a third loss across four matches, presenting a bleak image that has lingered through 2023 and now appears tough to reverse.
Atlético Tucumán arrived with the urgency to climb out of the relegation danger zone, needing points to lift their average. With no victories beyond the Jose Fierro Stadium, the visiting coach Jorge Pusineri’s side followed a familiar script: wait for the Academy to overextend and strike. The plan unfolded with surgical timing and precision.
Racing, hampered by an unsettled schedule, a thin squad of younger players, and several players out of their natural positions, never seized control. Then a costly error from one of their leaders, Gabriel Arias, opened the door for a dangerous counter and Adrián Sánchez converted decisively from the edge of the area.
The second half brought a stern test for the home side. Ortiz rose to meet a cross and headed the gap wider, while Estigarribia sprinted the length of the pitch before finishing calmly past the keeper. As the clock wound down and the result seemed settled, Ortiz added a late header to stretch the lead, with a prior goal from Paolo Guerrero ruled offside after a close call.
After 13 rounds, Racing sits 15 points behind the leaders, seemingly without a clear footballing direction beyond the two Libertadores wins that offer a glimmer of peace to an otherwise troubled season at Avellaneda.
The Binance Professional League Tournament 2023 schedule, fixtures, dates, and results
next on GOAL this is where the action unfolds.
RACING – ATLETICO TUCUMÁN, MINUTE BY MINUTE
- The minute-by-minute tale of the clash between the Academy and the Dean unfolds.
- RACING TARGET! Maxi Romero muscles his way to the ball and fires to make it 1-3.
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DISCOUNT FOR THE ACADEMY ⚽
Maxi Romero headed a sharp cross from Iván Pillud, and after Tomás Marchiori started poorly, Racing reduced the deficit. Atlético Tucumán still held a 3-1 advantage.
- Paolo Guerrero charged forward for a late reply, but the attempt did not count after a VAR review.
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DO NOT GO ON THE MARKER ❌
Guerrero again found the net, but the goal was ruled out by VAR as offside, keeping the score line intact for Atlético Tucumán.
- GOAL FOR ATLÉTICO TUCUMÁN! Estigarribia bursts through, Arias left behind, and the Dean adds a third.
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IF THIS IS NOT FOOTBALL, WHERE IS FOOTBALL?
Estigarribia finishes with authority after a solo run, sealing the scoring sequence for Atlético Tucumán.
- TO GOL OF ATLÉTICO TUCUMÁN! The Academy remains quiet as Ortiz nods in for a 2-0 lead.
- GOAL FOR ATLÉTICO TUCUMÁN! A fluid sequence ends with Sánchez finishing from close range to make it 4-0.
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THE DEAN OPENS IT ALL
Adrián Sánchez finds the near post, beating Gabriel Arias as Atlético Tucumán takes a commanding lead. Racing 0, Atlético Tucumán 1.
- And so the Pusineri era continues to be tested.
- Fernando Gago makes a noted debut in a fixture that showcased the evolving dynamics of the squad.
- Good evening and welcome to another GOAL broadcast, as Racing faces Atlético Tucumán on date 13 of the Binance 2023 tournament at the Presidente Perón Stadium.
THE TARGET EXAMPLE
HOW TO WATCH LIVE ON TV AND STREAMING
The match between the Academy and the Dean is broadcast in Argentina by TNT Sportssignal, available to subscribers with the football package from participating cable providers.
TNT SPORTS
FORMATIONS
TO RACE
Gabriel Arias; Leonardo Sigali, Tomas Aviles, Emiliano Insua; Facundo Mura, Juan Ignacio Nardoni, Jonatan Gomez, Emiliano Saliadarre; Gabriel Hauche, Paolo Guerrero, Maximiliano Romero. DT: Fernando Gago
ATHLETIC TUCUMAN
Thomas Marchiori; Marcelo Ortiz, Bruno Bianchi, Nicolas Romero; Renzo Tesuri, Gabriel Acosta, Joaquín Pereyra, Matías Orihuela, Adrián Sánchez; Mateo Coronel, Marcelo Estigarribia. D.T.: Lucas Pusineri
Source: Goal