Lanus on the strength of its striker Jose Sand, youthful midfield led by Lautaro Acosta, Matias Fritzler, Daniel Valeri, and veteran defenders Rodolfo Graieb, Walter Ribonetto, and ex-Argentine goalie Carlos Bossio could win it all by taking care of lowly Gimnasia de Plata today.
Lanus success is being hailed as a victory for their small but passionate group of members who have boosted the club finances through periods of near bankruptcy and their stellar youth academy that has churned out future Argentine squaddies including 1995 U20 World Champions Ariel Ibagaza and Gaston Coyote. The present squad has Lautaro Acosta, already a star in the U20 Argentine squad that won this years World Cup in Canada and Daniel Valeri, another exciting prospects in Argentine soccer. Under Ramon Cabrero, Lanus has seen a resurgence in its fortunes. Cabrero after promoting several promising youngsters from the club’s youth sides, led his squad to runners-up spot in the 2006 Clausura. As well as securing a berth in the 2008 Copa Libertadores, Lanus figured prominently in the destination of that year’s Apertura, defeating Boca on the final matchday to hand eventual champions Estudiantes a league-title play-off with the Xeneizes.
With Lanus, Tigre, and Arsenal di Sarandi making huge strides, the Argentine league is being shaken up and traditional powerhouses Boca Juniors and River Plate can no longer take titles as guaranteed.