With a line of four, with a line of three, in goat or other open games, Santiago Sosa is a guarantee on Gustavo Costas’ team. And in two positions, too: he provides security as a libero or central midfielder, two roles in which he became accustomed to oscillating during the same match. This Saturday was one of the highest points for a team that had to sweat a lot to reach the agonizing goal. Sosa in Racing celebrated with joy enhanced by the victory at the end, although he was left with a shitty anger that he wanted to make known after the 1-0 win over Deportivo Riestra, with a goal from Santiago Solari.
“We knew that they were going to play us that way, that they were going to kill time like they did… It makes us very angry that they come here and do those things,” the footballer launched in the Academy. Because of how short the match was, in fact the referee Fernando Echenique gave seven minutes of stoppage time. And in the 50th came Solari’s good definition after a great short touch from Maximiliano Salas.
“The team overcame that situation (the rival’s time), we won, we are all happy and enjoying ourselves.” Sosa, starting, formed a line of three, with Marco Di Cesare as stopper on the right and Agustín García Basso on the left. Facing an opponent who gathered very close to his area, Sosa had a lot of space in front of him and often climbed to the central midfielder position. From there he distributed judiciously to the sides, short and long. Organized, always well profiled, he was very efficient.
Santiago Sosa’s numbers in Racing – Deportivo Riestra in the Cylinder
According to the account @futbolarg1_, Sosa finished first in number of touches (132), in interceptions (3), in duels won (8), in successful passes (104), in passes in the opponent’s half (86), in touches in the final third (27) and in precise long passes (18). After joining the squad in the transfer market last summer, from Atlanta United of the MLS, the midfielder quickly established himself as a starter, with the advantage that he can cover two gaps and with the same efficiency. So important is it for Costas that Sosa played 25 of the 26 games that the Academy played so far this year. And in this way, he is the Racing player with the most appearances in 2024, even ahead of Gabriel Arias: the goalkeeper, for example, missed both matches for the Argentine Cup.
When Nardoni left due to an injury, one possibility was that another defender entered at the back and that Sosa went directly to midfield. However, Costas decided to bring in Bruno Zuculini and keep Sosa in the same role. The Academy achieved its fifth consecutive victory in all competitions, maintained leadership in the League and stretched five matches without conceding goals. This time he did not shine or overwhelm with victories, as he had done in the four previous games, but he continues at a triumphant pace.
Cover photo: Racing Press
