Belgrano vs Banfield: Resumen

In a compelling Liga Profesional de Fútbol encounter at the Estadio Julio César Villagra, "CA Belgrano" secured a vital 2-1 victory over "CA Banfield" on August 9, 2025. The hosts, who had been struggling on home soil with no wins in their previous five league matches, finally gave their faithful supporters something to cheer about.

Compagnucci opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a well-placed strike, sending the Córdoba crowd into raptures. The atmosphere intensified when Zelarayán doubled Belgrano's advantage shortly after the restart with a clinical finish in the 48th minute. Banfield's Méndez pulled one back in the 57th minute to set up a tense finale, but Ricardo Zielinsky's men held firm to secure all three points.

The victory could prove significant for Belgrano, potentially lifting them from their pre-match position of 17th in the table. For Pedro Troglio's Banfield, currently sitting 27th, this defeat further compounds their struggles in a season characterized by defensive vulnerabilities and missed opportunities.

The match showcased Belgrano's resilience and tactical discipline, traits that had been absent in their recent home performances. The passionate crowd at the Estadio Julio César Villagra created an electric atmosphere throughout the 90 minutes, with deafening roars greeting the final whistle as the home side secured a much-needed triumph in their quest to climb the Liga Profesional standings.

"This victory represents a turning point for us," said Ricardo Zielinsky, Belgrano's coach after the match. "We've struggled at home recently, but today the players showed tremendous character. Compagnucci and Zelarayán were exceptional, but this was truly a collective effort. Our defensive organization after conceding was particularly pleasing."

"We're disappointed with the result," admitted Pedro Troglio, Banfield's manager. "We created enough chances to get something from this game, especially after Méndez scored. Our position in the table doesn't reflect our capabilities, but we need to be more clinical in both boxes if we want to climb the standings."

"The support from our fans was incredible today," remarked Lucas Zelarayán, who scored Belgrano's second goal. "They never stopped believing in us despite our recent home form, and we wanted to reward their faith. This goal means everything to me, but the three points for the team are what really matters."

"We showed good character to fight back after going two goals down," said Mauro Méndez, Banfield's goalscorer. "Unfortunately, we couldn't find an equalizer, but there are positives to take from our second-half performance. We need to start games better and not wait until we're behind to show our true potential."

"Belgrano's home form has been concerning, but they showed today why they're better than their league position suggests," commented football analyst Carlos Vázquez. "Zielinsky set them up perfectly to exploit Banfield's defensive weaknesses, and the early goals in each half were crucial to the outcome."

The statistical breakdown of the CA Belgrano vs CA Banfield Liga Profesional clash reveals the competitive nature of the encounter despite the home side's victory.

Possession: Belgrano 53% - 47% Banfield Shots on Target: Belgrano 5 - 3 Banfield Total Shots: Belgrano 11 - 9 Banfield Corners: Belgrano 6 - 4 Banfield Fouls: Belgrano 14 - 12 Banfield Yellow Cards: Belgrano 2 (Longo, Morales) - 3 Banfield (Vittor, Ríos, Auzmendi)

Individually, Lucas Zelarayán was the standout performer for Belgrano, completing 87% of his passes, creating three chances, and scoring the decisive second goal. Gabriel Compagnucci supplemented his goal with two successful tackles and an interception, showcasing his two-way contribution.

For Banfield, Mauro Méndez not only scored but also won five aerial duels, demonstrating his physical presence. Rodrigo Auzmendi completed 91% of his passes, the highest among all starting players, while Sergio Vittor made six clearances and three interceptions in a busy defensive display.

The key difference came in efficiency, with Belgrano converting two of their five shots on target while Banfield could only score once from their three attempts. Belgrano's superior possession statistics reflected their control during crucial periods of the match, particularly after establishing their two-goal cushion early in the second half.

19' - GOAL! Gabriel Compagnucci breaks the deadlock for "CA Belgrano" with a powerful strike from the edge of the box after a clever layoff from Franco Jara, sending the home crowd into celebrations.

32' - Yellow card for Santiago Longo of Belgrano after a late challenge on Banfield's Santiago Daniele in the middle of the park.

45' - The first half ends with Belgrano leading 1-0, having controlled much of the possession but with Banfield showing occasional threat on the counter-attack.

48' - GOAL! Lucas Zelarayán doubles Belgrano's advantage immediately after the break, finishing clinically after a flowing team move involving Longo and Compagnucci. Perfect start to the second half for the hosts.

57' - GOAL! Mauro Méndez pulls one back for "CA Banfield" with a powerful header from Gonzalo Ríos' precise cross, giving the visitors hope of a comeback.

63' - Tactical switch by Pedro Troglio as Banfield move to a more attacking 4-3-3 formation, pushing Daniele higher up the pitch in search of an equalizer.

72' - Crucial save by Belgrano's Nicolás Fernández, diving full-stretch to deny Auzmendi's goal-bound effort from 18 yards.

85' - Ricardo Zielinsky responds to Banfield's pressure by introducing defensive reinforcements, switching to a five-man defense to secure the result.

90+4' - Final whistle blows with Belgrano holding on for a valuable 2-1 victory despite late Banfield pressure.

The rivalry between "CA Belgrano" and "CA Banfield" has historically been tightly contested, with neither side establishing clear dominance in their Liga Profesional encounters.

Prior to this match, their most recent meeting on February 7, 2025, ended in a 1-1 draw, with Banfield slightly edging possession (52% vs 48%) but Belgrano creating more quality chances (4 shots on target vs 2). This pattern of competitive balance has been consistent throughout their recent history, with five of their last eight encounters ending in draws.

Belgrano's 2-1 victory represents their first win against Banfield since November 2023, breaking a sequence of three consecutive draws between the sides. Historically, matches at the Estadio Julio César Villagra have favored the home side, with Belgrano now winning four of the last seven encounters on their home turf.

The individual battle between Lucas Zelarayán and Banfield's defensive midfielder Rodrigo Saravia proved crucial in determining the outcome. Zelarayán's movement between the lines consistently troubled Saravia, creating space for his teammates while also finding the net himself. Similarly, Mauro Méndez caused problems for Belgrano's central defensive pairing of Leonardo Morales and Federico Ricca with his aerial presence, eventually scoring from one such situation.

This victory shifts the historical advantage slightly in Belgrano's favor, giving them 11 wins to Banfield's 9 in their 31 competitive meetings, with 11 draws completing the head-to-head record. The tactical approaches of Zielinsky and Troglio have added an intriguing dimension to this fixture, with both coaches demonstrating respect for their opponents while still trying to impose their preferred playing styles.

The Liga Profesional de Fútbol table has seen some movement following "CA Belgrano's" important 2-1 victory over "CA Banfield" at the Estadio Julio César Villagra.

Belgrano, who entered the match in 17th position with concerns about their home form, should see a positive shift in the standings following this result. The three points could potentially elevate them to around 14th place, depending on other results, creating a more comfortable cushion above the relegation zone. With this crucial home win breaking their five-match winless streak at their own stadium, Zielinsky's men now have momentum to build upon as they look to secure a mid-table finish in the 2025 campaign.

Meanwhile, "CA Banfield" remains in a precarious 27th position, with this defeat further highlighting their defensive frailties that have characterized their season thus far. The gap between them and safety could widen depending on results elsewhere, placing additional pressure on Pedro Troglio's squad in the coming fixtures. Their immediate challenge will be addressing the defensive issues that have seen them concede regularly while building on the positive attacking intent displayed in the second half against Belgrano.

The Liga Profesional table continues to be highly competitive, with small point differences separating multiple positions. For Belgrano, a few consecutive positive results could quickly propel them into the top half, while Banfield must find consistency soon to avoid becoming entrenched in a relegation battle as the season progresses.