Have you finally made up your mind and started planning a football trip to Buenos Aires? Of course you want to see Boca Juniors, but there's so much more than Boca Juniors and River Plate. In this blog, we tell you more about the other 3 Cinco Grandes and other big clubs in Buenos Aires.
The moment has arrived – the decision has been made. You're going on a football trip to Buenos Aires! Preferably with your friends, of course, and hopefully someone will want to join you. Boca Juniors tops the list. La Bombonera – you simply have to have been there. River Plate? These clubs often don't play their home matches in the same weekend. How are you going to arrange all this?
And those other clubs do exist, of course! Which ones exactly? In this blog, we'll tell you more about the Cinco Grandes of Argentina and the other clubs in Buenos Aires that are well worth a visit.
The Cinco Grandes of Argentina
Argentine football has 5 clubs that have historically been designated as Grande. Hence the name Cinco Grandes. These 5 clubs are: Boca Juniors, Independiente, Racing Club, River Plate and San Lorenzo. Being named a Grande in 1937 related to a club's voting rights within Argentine football. A Grande received more voting power. A club could become a Grande by playing in the top division for at least 20 years, having at least 15,000 socios, and having won a championship at least once. At the time, the 5 clubs mentioned met all 3 of these requirements.
Not a Grande, but there's so much more
These are, of course, not the only clubs in Buenos Aires playing at the highest level. What about Velez Sarsfield, Huracán, Barracas Central and Argentinos Juniors, the club of Diego Armando Maradona? They're all from the city of Buenos Aires too.
Then there are also clubs from Buenos Aires province playing at the highest level, essentially located in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. These clubs are Lanús, Banfield, Arsenal Sarandí, Chacarita Juniors, Tigre, Belgrano and Platense.
Besides all these clubs, 50 kilometres further south, in the city of La Plata, you'll find two more major clubs: Estudiantes and Gimnasia y Esgrima.
Decision overload
It's almost hard to believe, but in total, 18 clubs play at the highest level in the city and suburbs of Buenos Aires. With a football trip to Buenos Aires, you'll make your dream come true, but in the meantime you'll likely suffer from decision overload! Which club should you visit, and which ones should you skip? Every club has its pros and cons. We'll try to help you out by listing a number of clubs that we find particularly interesting.
Argentinos Juniors
The club of Diego Armando Maradona, as the stadium is now also named. The club where he grew up and stayed until he was 20. Where he was allowed to show off his skills during half-time of first-team matches. Argentinos Juniors earned so much money from his sale that they were able to buy a number of good players, became champions of Argentina, and even reached the final of the Copa Libertadores. Juventus ultimately proved too strong. The stadium is beautifully maintained, and the club is proud of its history with legend Maradona. The Argentinos Juniors stadium is also located in a reasonably good part of Buenos Aires. A possible must-see.
Lanús
Club Atlético Lanús is a club from the suburb of the same name in Buenos Aires province. Lanús' great rival is nearby Banfield. Having fluctuated between the first and second divisions in the past, the club is now working towards becoming more stable. Since the youth academy was set up properly, many academy players now feature in the first team. Years ago, the club even became Argentine champions. Their great rival is nearby Banfield.
Racing Club
Racing Club is a Grande from Buenos Aires province. Geographically, the club is located two kilometres south of Boca Juniors. Racing Club has always felt like a truly Argentine club. For this reason, the club plays in the colours of the Argentine national team – light blue with white-striped shirts. It has won many trophies in the past. They've won the Argentine championship and the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of the Champions League. The Racing Club stadium is a real gem. It's circular in shape and nicknamed El Cilindro. Racing Club's great rival is also a Grande – neighbouring Independiente. The stadiums of these rivals from Avellaneda are literally 200 metres apart.
Huracán
The Huracán stadium should really be part of your football trip to Buenos Aires. The stands are close to the pitch, which clearly has a positive effect on the atmosphere inside the stadium. Given its past successes, Huracán is sometimes referred to as the sixth Grande. This club's great rival is fellow Grande San Lorenzo.
Independiente
Independiente, the Argentine club with the most Copa Libertadores titles to its name. The Independiente stadium is one to see for yourself. The beautiful steep stands are completed by the corners of the stadium, which resemble the jaws of a fearsome monster.
San Lorenzo
