Federal A: Atlético Rafaela take the Clásico and seal qualification | OneFootball

Celeste triumphed 2-1 against 9 de Julio in the rematch that took place after 33 years, securing their place in the playoffs for the first promotion and the next Copa Argentina. Next match, they will visit Sarmiento de La Banda. Meanwhile, León will host Douglas Haig.

And one day, the classic Rafaela match returned. Atlético de Rafaela and 9 de Julio officially faced each other in the First Division after 33 years since that 1992 Revalidation. September 7, 2025 will go down in Rafaela football history for this clash between La Crema and León. Matchday 8 of the Championship Zone of the Federal A Tournament. A special match. For the classic. For the reunion. And for what each team was playing for.

This weekend, Atlético arrived with a defeat in Salta and the need to secure their qualification to the playoffs of the first promotion. 9 de Julio, on the other hand, kept their hopes alive, especially to qualify for the Copa Argentina. A special match, undoubtedly, at the Monumental Stadium in Alberdi neighborhood.

For this game, coach Iván Juárez made a change in the defense area. He waited until the last moment for Fernando Ponce, but the central defender did not even occupy a place on the bench, his place being taken by Enzo Wuattier. Thus, the starting eleven were Emanuel Bilbao; Julián Fuyana, Gabriel Fernández, Nicolás Utrera and Enzo Wuattier; Facundo Affranchino, Facundo Soloa, Juan Martín Capurro and Agustín Pastorelli; Lucas Albertengo and Ciro Leineker.

On the visitor's side, Marcelo Varela reinforced the midfield, putting three containment men and two men who had to cover the midfield in defense and the attack in offense. The names were: Franco Fragueda; Maximiliano Martínez, Facundo Centurión, Tomás Androetto, Sebastián Acuña; Tobías Macíes, Facundo Maldonado, Alex Salcedo; Jeremías Bustos and Lautaro Ocampo; Enzo Abondetto.

The start of the game was marked by the home team. Albertengo started from the middle and the first ball fell in Fragueda's area, who controlled without problems. An image that would mark the beginning of the game, with Atlético positioning themselves near the opponent's area and 9 de Julio trying to cut and get out quickly.

About five minutes in, the first controversy of the afternoon would occur with a free kick in favor of the albiceleste team. A center from Agustín Pastorelli fell on Utrera's head who was looking for an Albertengo who was contained gracefully by Martínez, an image overlooked by the referee of the day, José Díaz.

About 9' in, the visitors would approach Bilbao's area through a corner kick. The center could not be clearly connected by Centurión, who ended up reaching La Crema's '1'.

Three minutes after that first arrival of León, the first blow of the afternoon would come in Alberdi neighborhood. Macíes was pressured on the exit by Affranchino, who won, started running and assisted the great captain, who did not hesitate as throughout the season. Albertengo stepped into the area and shot first to put the partial 1-0.

The advantage on the scoreboard before the first quarter of an hour would show two images. On one hand, the momentum of Atlético and on the other the need for 9 de Julio to go out and seek the quick draw. Thus, at 15', from a long exit by Bilbao, Affranchino could have stretched the difference. The '10' controlled it and turned around to shoot at goal with Fragueda's controlled stretch.

The atmosphere heated up as the minutes went by. A strong foul by Bustos on Wuattier, which ended with a yellow card for the León attacker, also provoked the expulsion of Marcelo Varela, the visiting coach for his verbose excess towards the main referee.

At 24', the visitors approached the rival area, with Alex Salcedo shooting from medium distance, being a deflected shot and to the corner kick. León tried again at 28' with a free kick from Alex Salcedo that went over the crossbar.

When it seemed that the visitors were going to get into the game with their approaches, the home team struck again. 30' into the game and a long exit that found Pastorelli and Albertengo who, with a subtle wall, the captain left the '11' one on one against the late exit of Fragueda to put the partial 2-0.

Approaching 40' of the first half, 9 de Julio tried again from a set piece. A new free kick at the door of the area defended by Bilbao had Alex Salcedo as the executor, although his shot deflected off the barrier. León could not find the ball and the game from the set piece was his only way out to bring danger to his rival.

At 42', Atlético had their chance for a third goal, with another arrival from Albertengo, who shot across and Fragueda held.

At the start of the second half, 9 de Julio came out with a different spirit to play the game, including the first natural shot on goal, with a shot from Enzo Abondetto at the minute of the second half that went just over the crossbar.

In response, Atlético had their chance for a goal at 4' with a free kick from Pastorelli that was connected by the incoming Agustín Alfano - who replaced an injured Leineker - that demanded Fragueda, who deflected the ball over the crossbar.

Without clear danger situations from both sides, the game became monotonous and stuck. Atlético looked calm and prioritized controlling the different sectors of the field. 9 de Julio's promising start was short-lived.

The changes seemed not to work for the visitors reaching the half hour of the second half. The team led by Marcelo Varela were already betting on long throws for their attackers to bring it down at the door of the area, although without much success. Meanwhile, the one who was winning on the already cold Sunday afternoon, was waiting for some counterattack action to seal the story.

At 31', Atlético once again took control of the ball and through Enzo Wuattier could have scored the third. The left back received the ball and went down his sector, hooking inside and shooting from inside the area to once again demand Fragueda, the one responsible for 9 de Julio only losing by two goals difference.

About 34', Wuattier would be the author of a new situation, but now negative for La Crema. Because after receiving a foul, the '3' received a straight red card for reacting from the ground to a stomp by Centurión not observed by the game referee.

The extra man seemed to give 9 de Julio another spirit who approached Bilbao's area, with a shot from the "Mariachi" Ibáñez -one of the many substitutes- that went wide on the left post. Then, the one who had it was Nicolás Del Solé, who entered the area and shot across against Bilbao's effort that did not reach. The ball went just wide.

There were only five minutes left in the classic match and that unusual expulsion of Wuattier provoked a reaction from a 9 de Julio that until then had not demanded Bilbao. Meanwhile, Atlético could not find the ball to give tranquility to the story that was being told in Alberdi neighborhood.

So much was 9 de Julio that at 42' they found the discount. While the Atlético stand was having a party, Bilbao was left without vision and found the ball inside his area when Sebastián Acuña tried to send a center and a deflection in Matías Martínez -entered in place of Lucas Albertengo- made the score 2-1. After the goal, the game referee decided to stop the game.

At 47', the visitors had their chance to tie the game through Androetto, who could not accurately connect a center from the right. A minute later, 9 de Julio would suffer the expulsion of Facundo Centurión for double caution.

The story did not give for more and Díaz asked for the ball. Atlético won in Alberdi neighborhood. The First Division classic after 33 years of waiting went to La Crema, who ran over their rival in the first half and knew how to hold on in the second half. Iván Juárez's team won the match and secured their qualification to the Playoffs.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.