A goalless draw at Deportivo Constitución Veteranos' pitch against Mutual Liniers, on matchday 17 of Primera L - GBA Oeste, ended up reflecting two sides who respected each other from the outset but never found a way through the defensive barricade. With both sides lined up in a 4-4-2 and an even mentality, the match unfolded in a tactical no man's land where chances were few and far between and caution was the managers' best adviser. From the first half it was clear that neither side was willing to take unnecessary risks, producing a tight contest in which defence came out on top of attack.
On the right flank of Constitución Veteranos, Ricardo Schwartzman did his job as a left-back with responsibility. The 24-year-old Uruguayan, who arrived in these ranks after a youth friendly that left a deep mark on him, put in a solid shift containing Mutual Liniers' efforts down that side. Meanwhile, in the home back line, Edu Bianchi played as an Argentine centre-back, aged 26, right in the best spell of his football career according to his 7.1 rating. The man from Tandil knows the art of reading the game from the back, that sense of positioning that doesn't even require haste, and it allowed him to neutralise the dangers created by the visitors' attack without major problems.
For Mutual Liniers, Simón Borda as a left winger was one of the main concerns for the Constitución Veteranos defence. The 22-year-old, born in Tigre, tried to create movement on his side with the pace typical of his age and position, though without finding the space needed to unleash a dangerous move that would really trouble the home back line. Borda's attacking runs were dealt with effectively, which speaks to the collective defensive work set up by Constitución at home.
The lack of goals came from a match in which both teams prioritised avoiding mistakes over creating clear chances. It was a game with more defensive than attacking volume, where the goalkeepers had little to do and where second balls hardly existed at all. Neither Constitución Veteranos at home nor Mutual Liniers away managed to apply sustained pressure that would break the opponent's patience. The result, in the end, was a fair one. Both sides took a point from La Matanza, in a match that will be remembered more for its tactical austerity than for its spectacle.
Deportivo Constitución Veteranos came in with 1 win, 2 draws and 2 defeats in their last 5 matches.
Los Rayos Dorados came in with 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats in their last 5 matches.
In the last 2 meetings between Deportivo Constitución Veteranos and Los Rayos Dorados: 1 win for Deportivo Constitución Veteranos, 1 draw and 0 for Los Rayos Dorados.
Full Deportivo Constitución Veteranos vs Los Rayos Dorados head-to-head →
Deportivo Constitución Veteranos (4-4-2): Diogo Silvestre, Ricardo Schwartzman, Joel Hidalgo, Edu Bianchi, Zacarías Jiménez, Santiago Bianchi, Tomás Bianco, Genaro Arriaga, Rolando Toledo, Felipe Santini, Milton Filippa.
Los Rayos Dorados (4-4-2): Lionel Mendoza, Nazareno Halim, Santiago Valdés, Lisandro Mazza, Raúl Matos, Simón Borda, Wilfredo Aldecoa, Víctor Zambon, Camilo Grosso, Nahuel Schwartzman, Roberto Bartolozzi.
In Primera L - GBA Oeste, Deportivo Constitución Veteranos are in position 5 with 42 points; Los Rayos Dorados are in position 12 with 39 points. See the full table
Deportivo Constitución Veteranos, with 1,579 fans. Home ground: Estadio Deportivo Constitución Veteranos.
Los Rayos Dorados ("LRD"), with 1,624 fans. Home ground: Estadio Mutual LRD.
Next match for Deportivo Constitución Veteranos: vs su proximo rival — Sunday 1 November at 01:00 GMT
Next match for Los Rayos Dorados: vs su proximo rival — Sunday 1 November at 01:00 GMT
This match was played by two real managers on ELDT, the free online football manager game. Take your own club from the bottom all the way to the top flight.