FC Varela0 - 1AC Villa Riachuelo

Villa Riachuelo made the most of their trip to Mataderos with a narrow victory that reflected the nature of the match: a tight affair where the differences came down to the smallest details. Aníbal Brancato’s first-half strike was enough for the visitors to take all three points from the home side’s pitch, on a matchday when both well-balanced setups produced a scrappy game with few chances at either end.

Mutual Mataderos set out with the intention of taking the game to their opponents, lining up in a 4-4-2 without showing much attacking aggression. Lolo Schneider marshalled the defence from the centre with the experience of a veteran, while Brian Bedialauneta carried out more functional than brilliant duties on the right. Yago Villegas showed flashes on the left flank but failed to create any clear-cut chances. For the visitors, Villa Riachuelo found two far superior players in the wide areas in Tincho Aloma and Cristian Rotondo, with Rotondo demonstrating the versatility that characterises him. Adolfo Amezaga, the seventeen-year-old youngster who is still developing, was not called upon defensively thanks to a midfield that maintained control without overwhelming the opposition. Brancato was lethal: he needed little to break the deadlock and decide the match with the composure he has built up over his thirty-year career.

What this defeat leaves behind in Mataderos is not dramatic, but it is uncomfortable. The home side did not create many tangible chances, and Villa Riachuelo managed their advantage well without needing to overexert themselves. Mutual are left with the feeling of having been inferior where it hurts most: in efficiency. For Riachuelo, the victory validates a measured approach that worked. With this win, the visitors move forward in the group, while Mutual must react in their next fixtures.

In the last meeting between FC Varela and AC Villa Riachuelo: 0 wins for FC Varela, 0 draws and 1 for AC Villa Riachuelo.

• AC Villa Riachuelo 1-0 FC Varela

Full FC Varela vs AC Villa Riachuelo head-to-head →

FC Varela (4-4-2): Hernán Bilbao, Camilo Ruffini, Brian Velez, Lolo Schneider, Brian Bedialauneta, Yago Villegas, Aníbal Aboud, Lucca Zamora, Gustavo Costa, Yoel Zambrano, Nazareno Bartoli.

AC Villa Riachuelo (4-4-2): Yanis Zola, Tincho Aloma, Adolfo Amezaga, Gabriel Zerbi, Joaquín Zola, Bautista Vázquez, Bautista Zarate, Vidal Bottura, Cristian Rotondo, Axel Schäfer, Aníbal Brancato.

In Primera L - GBA Norte, FC Varela are in position 1 with 56 points; AC Villa Riachuelo are in position 9 with 41 points. See the full table

• Paraná Club 1-0 Tuyutense Futbol Club
• Sociedad Parque Chacabuco 1-1 C. y Barrio Montserrat
• La Gloria de Liniers 1-0 El Tradicional de Parque Avellaneda
• Cooperativa Abasto 0-0 Estrella Agronomía
• Club atlético retiro de santa fe 2-0 Círculo La Boca
• Real Caballito Reservas 0-0 CJ Villa Lugano
• Juventud San Cristóbal 1-0 Indep. Parque Centenario

FC Varela, with 1,888 fans. Home ground: Bruno Joaquín Flores.

AC Villa Riachuelo, with 1,846 fans. Home ground: Estadio AC Villa Riachuelo.

Next match for FC Varela: vs su proximo rival — Sunday 1 November at 01:00 GMT

Next match for AC Villa Riachuelo: vs su proximo rival — Sunday 1 November at 01:00 GMT