# 2019–20 Unión de Santa Fe season

The 2019–20 season is Unión Santa Fe's 6th consecutive season in the top division of Argentine football. In addition to the Primera División, the club are competing in the Copa Argentina, Copa de la Superliga and Copa Sudamericana.
The season generally covers the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.

## Review
### Pre-season

On 20 June 2019, Unión Santa Fe announced that a deal, subject to personal terms and medicals, had been agreed for the transfers of Emanuel Brítez and Diego Zabala to Rosario Central. A day later, a similar agreement was reached with San Lorenzo for the sales of Bruno and Mauro Pittón. The departures of Brítez and Zabala were completed on 21 June, with the previously mentioned brothers following suit on 22 June. After four outgoings, Unión revealed their first incoming on 25 June in goalkeeper Sebastián Moyano from La Plata's Gimnasia y Esgrima. Jonatan Fleita's loan deal with Nueva Chicago was extended for a further season on 25 June. On 28 June, Unión communicated that they had earned $6.125m from the sales of Brítez, Zabala and the Pittón brothers.
Ezequiel Bonifacio joined the club on 29 June, signing from Gimnasia y Esgrima; à la Moyano. A fifth player left on 30 June, as Franco Fragapane went to Talleres. Numerous loans from the previous campaign officially expired on and around 30 June. Franco Troyansky converted a penalty as Unión beat Godoy Cruz in a pre-season friendly on 3 July, though lost the secondary encounter by two goals. Damián Martínez, who spent the last two campaigns on loan from Independiente, was signed permanently on 3 July. A transaction with Patronato for Gabriel Carabajal was confirmed on 4 July, with the right midfielder penning a three-year contract. Joaquín Papaleo was loaned, for a career third time, to Santamarina. Unión beat Cosmos FC in friendlies on 10 July.
Right midfielder Santiago Lebus headed off to All Boys on 10 July, a day prior to Federico Andrada's exit to Aldosivi. No goals were scored in two exhibition matches between Unión and Rosario Central on 13 July. Veteran goalkeeper Nereo Fernández switched Unión for Atlético de Rafaela on 16 July. Jalil Elías arrived on loan from Newell's Old Boys on 17 July. Federico Milo became their sixth reinforcement for the new campaign, as he was loaned from Arsenal de Sarandí. Boca Juniors's Walter Bou penned a loan contract with Unión on 23 July.

### July

Unión Santa Fe travelled to reigning champions Racing Club on matchday one of their league campaign, subsequently securing a goalless draw on 26 July. Juan Cavallaro made a move from recently relegated Tigre on 30 July.

### August

On 2 August, Matías García signed for Chacarita Juniors. Goals from Walter Bou and Yeimar Gómez Andrade secured Unión victory in game two, on 4 August, in the Primera División over Defensa y Justicia. Unión played Sarmiento in friendlies on 9 August, with a 1–1 draw preceding a 0–1 loss. Facundo Britos became a new player of Atlético de Rafaela on 12 August. After a draw and a win in the Primera División, Unión experienced their first league loss on 17 August to Newell's Old Boys. Another defeat arrived a week later, as Lanús condemned them to a 1–2 scoreline. Unión lost again on 31 August, this time to San Lorenzo after a winning goal from ex-player Bruno Pittón.

## Squad

| Squad No. | Nationality | Name | Position(s) | Date of Birth (age) | Signed from |
| Goalkeepers ||||||
| 1 | | Marcos Peano | GK | (1998-10-15) 15 October 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| 13 | | Alan Sosa | GK | (1996-04-27) 27 April 1996 (age 28) | Academy |
| 25 | | Sebastián Moyano | GK | (1990-08-26) 26 August 1990 (age 34) | Gimnasia y Esgrima |
| | | Ignacio Arce | GK | (1992-04-08) 8 April 1992 (age 32) | Academy |
| | | Matías Castro | GK | (1987-10-24) 24 October 1987 (age 37) | Liverpool |
| Defenders ||||||
| 2 | | Franco Calderón | CB | (1998-05-13) 13 May 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| 3 | | Claudio Corvalán | LB | (1989-03-23) 23 March 1989 (age 35) | Arsenal de Sarandí |
| 4 | | Damián Martínez | RB | (1990-01-31) 31 January 1990 (age 34) | Independiente |
| 6 | | Jonathan Bottinelli | CB | (1984-09-14) 14 September 1984 (age 40) | Arsenal de Sarandí |
| 14 | | Federico Milo | LB | (1992-01-10) 10 January 1992 (age 32) | Arsenal de Sarandí (loan) |
| 17 | | Brian Blasi | CB | (1996-02-08) 8 February 1996 (age 28) | Academy |
| 19 | | Ezequiel Bonifacio | RB | (1994-05-09) 9 May 1994 (age 30) | Gimnasia y Esgrima |
| 26 | | Federico Vera | LB | (1998-03-24) 24 March 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| 28 | | Yeimar Gómez Andrade | CB | (1992-06-30) 30 June 1992 (age 32) | Independiente Rivadavia |
| Midfielders ||||||
| 5 | | Nelson Acevedo | LM | (1988-07-11) 11 July 1988 (age 36) | Racing Club (loan) |
| 8 | | Lucas Ríos | RM | (1998-03-08) 8 March 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| 10 | | Gabriel Carabajal | RM | (1991-12-09) 9 December 1991 (age 32) | Patronato |
| 11 | | Jalil Elías | CM | (1996-04-25) 25 April 1996 (age 28) | Newell's Old Boys (loan) |
| 15 | | Juan Cavallaro | AM | (1994-06-28) 28 June 1994 (age 30) | Tigre |
| 18 | | Darío Bottinelli | AM | (1986-12-26) 26 December 1986 (age 37) | Audax Italiano |
| 20 | | Gastón González | MF | (2001-06-27) 27 June 2001 (age 23) | Academy |
| 21 | | Gastón Comas | MF | (1998-06-13) 13 June 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| 23 | | Manuel de Iriondo | CM | (1993-05-06) 6 May 1993 (age 31) | Atlético de Rafaela |
| 24 | | Franco Godoy | MF | (2000-06-28) 28 June 2000 (age 24) | Academy |
| 27 | | Javier Méndez | DM | (1994-12-05) 5 December 1994 (age 29) | Racing Club |
| 29 | | Braian Álvarez | LM | (1997-08-22) 22 August 1997 (age 27) | Racing Club (loan) |
| 30 | | Juan Ignacio Nardoni | MF | (2002-07-14) 14 July 2002 (age 22) | Academy |
| | | Claudio Aquino | AM | (1991-07-24) 24 July 1991 (age 33) | Independiente |
| | | Imanol Machuca | MF | (2000-01-15) 15 January 2000 (age 24) | Academy |
| Forwards ||||||
| 7 | | Pablo Cuadra | CF | (1995-06-06) 6 June 1995 (age 29) | Racing Club (loan) |
| 9 | | Walter Bou | CF | (1993-08-25) 25 August 1993 (age 31) | Boca Juniors (loan) |
| 12 | | Nicolás Mazzola | CF | (1990-01-28) 28 January 1990 (age 34) | Gimnasia y Esgrima |
| 22 | | Franco Troyansky | CF | (1997-03-06) 6 March 1997 (age 27) | Olimpo |
| | | Nicolás Andereggen | CF | (1999-02-22) 22 February 1999 (age 25) | Academy |
| | | Federico Anselmo | CF | (1994-04-17) 17 April 1994 (age 30) | Estudiantes |
| | | Rodrigo Cabalucci | LW | (1992-07-22) 22 July 1992 (age 32) | Olimpo |
| | | Matías Gallegos | CF | (1997-05-15) 15 May 1997 (age 27) | Academy |
| Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Loaned to |
| | | Jonatan Fleita | CB | (1995-01-20) 20 January 1995 (age 29) | Nueva Chicago |
| | | Mariano Gómez | CB | (1999-02-05) 5 February 1999 (age 25) | Ibiza |
| | | Joaquín Papaleo | GK | (1994-03-23) 23 March 1994 (age 30) | Santamarina |

## Transfers

Domestic transfer windows: 3 July 2019 to 24 September 2019 20 January 2020 to 19 February 2020.

### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From |
| 3 July 2019 | GK | Sebastián Moyano | Gimnasia y Esgrima |
| 3 July 2019 | RB | Ezequiel Bonifacio | Gimnasia y Esgrima |
| 3 July 2019 | RB | Damián Martínez | Independiente |
| 4 July 2019 | RM | Gabriel Carabajal | Patronato |
| 30 July 2019 | AM | Juan Cavallaro | Tigre |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To |
| 3 July 2019 | RB | Emanuel Brítez | Rosario Central |
| 3 July 2019 | RW | Diego Zabala | Rosario Central |
| 3 July 2019 | LB | Bruno Pittón | San Lorenzo |
| 3 July 2019 | DM | Mauro Pittón | San Lorenzo |
| 3 July 2019 | CF | Franco Fragapane | Talleres |
| 10 July 2019 | RM | Santiago Lebus | All Boys |
| 11 July 2019 | CF | Federico Andrada | Aldosivi |
| 16 July 2019 | GK | Nereo Fernández | Atlético de Rafaela |
| 2 August 2019 | GK | Matías García | Chacarita Juniors |
| 2 August 2019 | CM | Facundo Britos | Atlético de Rafaela |

### Loans in

| Start date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| 17 July 2019 | CM | Jalil Elías | Newell's Old Boys | 30 June 2020 |
| 19 July 2019 | LB | Federico Milo | Arsenal de Sarandí | 30 June 2020 |
| 23 July 2019 | CF | Walter Bou | Boca Juniors | 30 June 2020 |

### Loans out

| Start date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | End date | Ref. |
| 7 July 2019 | GK | | Joaquín Papaleo | Santamarina | 30 June 2020 | |

## Friendlies
### Pre-season

Unión Santa Fe, on 14 June 2019, revealed friendly matches with Godoy Cruz and Rosario Central that were set for 3 July and 13 July respectively. They'd also meet local Santa Fe team Cosmos FC on 10 July.
Win  Draw  Loss

### Mid-season

Unión Santa Fe held exhibition games with Sarmiento on 9 August.
Win  Draw  Loss

## Competitions
### Primera División
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 14 | Independiente | 23 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 27 | 25 | +2 | 29 |
| 15 | Atlético Tucumán | 23 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 22 | 25 | −3 | 29 |
| 16 | Unión | 23 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 21 | 30 | −9 | 27 |
| 17 | Banfield | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 19 | 23 | −4 | 26 |
| 18 | Central Córdoba (SdE) | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 29 | −8 | 26 |

#### Relegation table

| Pos | Team | 2017–18 Pts | 2018–19 Pts | 2019–20 Pts | Total Pts | Total Pld | Avg |
| 11 | Vélez Sarsfield | 38 | 40 | 7 | 85 | 57 | 1.491 |
| 12 | Atlético Tucumán | 36 | 42 | 6 | 84 | 57 | 1.474 |
| 13 | Unión | 43 | 36 | 4 | 83 | 57 | 1.456 |
| 14 | Lanús | 29 | 34 | 10 | 73 | 57 | 1.281 |
| 15 | Argentinos Juniors | 41 | 22 | 9 | 72 | 57 | 1.263 |
Source: AFA

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 31 August 2019. Source: Soccerway

#### Matches

The fixtures for the 2019–20 campaign were released on 10 July.
Win  Draw  Loss

### Copa Argentina

Win  Draw  Loss

### Copa de la Superliga

Win  Draw  Loss

### Copa Sudamericana

Win  Draw  Loss

## Squad statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos. | Nationality | Name | League | League | Cup | Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline | Ref |
| No. | Pos. | Nationality | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | | Ref |
| 1 | GK | | Marcos Peano | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | CB | | Franco Calderón | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | LB | | Claudio Corvalán | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 4 | RB | | Damián Martínez | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| 5 | LM | | Nelson Acevedo | 2(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 6 | CB | | Jonathan Bottinelli | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| 7 | CF | | Pablo Cuadra | 2(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | RM | | Lucas Ríos | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | CF | | Walter Bou | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | RM | | Gabriel Carabajal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | CM | | Jalil Elías | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 12 | CF | | Nicolás Mazzola | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | GK | | Alan Sosa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | LB | | Federico Milo | 2(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 15 | AM | | Juan Cavallaro | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | CB | | Brian Blasi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | AM | | Darío Bottinelli | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 19 | RB | | Ezequiel Bonifacio | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| 20 | MF | | Gastón González | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 22 | CF | | Franco Troyansky | 1(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 21 | MF | | Gastón Comas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 23 | CF | | Manuel de Iriondo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 24 | MF | | Franco Godoy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 25 | GK | | Sebastián Moyano | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 26 | LB | | Federico Vera | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 27 | DM | | Javier Méndez | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 28 | CB | | Yeimar Gómez Andrade | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| 29 | LM | | Braian Álvarez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 30 | MF | | Juan Ignacio Nardoni | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CM | | Nicolás Andereggen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CF | | Federico Anselmo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | GK | | Ignacio Arce | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | AM | | Claudio Aquino | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | LW | | Rodrigo Cabalucci | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | GK | | Matías Castro | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CF | | Matías Gallegos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CB | | Mariano Gómez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | MF | | Imanol Machuca | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | GK | | Joaquín Papaleo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | — | 0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | — | — | — |
| Players who left during the season |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | MF | | Matías García | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CM | | Facundo Britos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Statistics accurate as of 31 August 2019.

### Goalscorers

| Rank | Pos | No. | Nat | Name | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | Ref |
| 1 | CB | 28 | | Yeimar Gómez Andrade | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2 | CF | 9 | | Walter Bou | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2 | RB | 19 | | Ezequiel Bonifacio | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — |