Argentine League begins tomorrow and San Lorenzo is ready for the show!

This is the way Gregory Sicca, from www.si.com, reflects on San Lorenzo's current situation:

"When San Lorenzo won its first Argentine title since 2001 last season, it demonstrated all the qualities of a true champion. Not only did the team play an attractive style of soccer, but it also showed the necessary temperament to defeat difficult opponents.

In the '07 Apertura Championship, San Lorenzo will do its best to reproduce last season's outstanding form, although it will be without two key players in Ezequiel Lavezzi and Cristian Ledesma, who left for Europe. But the reigning champions are still favorites to defend their title after replacing them.

Even so, with the level of quality likely to be on display in the championship this season, San Lorenzo must be at its all-time best in order to overcome tricky rivals like Boca Juniors, Estudiantes de La Plata and River Plate.

These clubs have also suffered similar losses, but have all cashed in thanks to their sales and should be as strong as ever. Argentine soccer is accustomed to the ongoing exodus of its best players, and although it often affects the better teams in the league, it helps bring in a large percentage of their cash flow.

It also helps even out the competition, as has been the case in the last few years. Many different teams are starting to break the Boca Juniors-River Plate monopoly, and several smaller clubs are beginning to rise to prominence. Teams like Arsenal de Sarandí and Lanús are now consistently challenging for the honors, and this is likely to continue this season.

The '07 Apertura, which begins on Friday, guarantees high-quality soccer and promises to be one of the most evenly matched competitions of the last few years.

Most significant signings
Of all the title candidates, San Lorenzo reinforced the best after cashing in on Lavezzi's $8 million transfer to Italy's Napoli. The defending champs beat Boca to midfielders Juan Manuel Torres (Racing) and Daniel Bilos (Saint-Étienne).

Bilos, who had won two championships with Boca before moving to France, will add strength to San Lorenzo's midfield with his 6-foot-4 frame. But San Lorenzo's biggest signing is Bernardo Romeo, who returns to the club from Spain's Osasuna. Romeo played a leading role in San Lorenzo's '01 Apertura and Copa Mercosur titles."