Velez Sarsfield will be concentrating only on their meeting with Lanus and not results elsewhere when they bid to claim the Clausura crown on Sunday. Ricardo Gareca's side have a one-point lead over Huracan, while their forthcoming opponents are just two points behind them with two games to go.

Victory for Velez, combined with a defeat for Huracan against Arsenal at the Estadio Tomas Adolfo Duco, would hand them the title. "First we must do our job - I mean defeating Lanus," said defender Sebastian Dominguez said. "Then I hope Arsenal have a good match. We'll see."

First we must do our job - I mean defeating Lanus. Then I hope Arsenal have a good match.
Velez Sarsfield defender Sebastian Dominguez

Forward Jonathan Cristaldo added: "On Sunday I will not be thinking about what is happening (in the Huracan match), but about what we are doing on the field."

Gareca, 51, is hoping he will be celebrating the first Argentinian league title of his coaching career this weekend. "I've been working hard for years. I am very excited at the moment and I am trying to enjoy it a lot," he said. 

Optimistic challengers
However, Lanus coach Luis Zubeldia believes his team have what it takes to triumph this weekend, and keep their own title hopes alive. "The good thing is that we can go ahead of Velez if we beat them," he said.

"We are thinking only about Velez, not what it would do for our chances of winning the league. This team have already got over tough defeats. We are fighting for the title despite them.

"Velez are the most solid team because they are in first place, but all the teams are very even. Some teams are good in attack, others in defence. These matches are decided by details and I hope they go our way."

Huracan go into their game against Arsenal on the back of a 1-0 win over arch-rivals San Lorenzo last weekend. Victory for Angel Cappa's team would set up a dramatic final day of the season, with Huracan and Velez meeting in the last round.

"It is up to us and only us," said Paolo Goltz. "The win over San Lorenzo was doubly important because of that."

Fourth-placed Colon lie five points behind Velez, and striker Ruben Ramirez knows their game against Estudiantes on Sunday is a must-win if their slim title hopes are not to disappear completely. "We want to keep picking up points and then we'll see how the tournament goes," he said. "Estudiantes will be tough opponents, but we live in hope."