# 2019–20 Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata season

The 2019–20 season is Gimnasia y Esgrima's 8th consecutive season in the top division of Argentine football. In addition to the Primera División, the club are competing in the Copa Argentina and Copa de la Superliga.
The season generally covers the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.

## Review
### Pre-season

Gimnasia y Esgrima's first occurrence of note arrived on 23 June 2019, as right-back Facundo Oreja ended his seven-year stint with them to join newly-promoted Primera B Nacional team Barracas Central. Sebastián Moyano also departed, with Unión Santa Fe snapping him up on 25 June. The club's appeared on the pitch for the opening time on 26 June, facing Everton of La Plata back-to-back at the Estancia Chica. A goal from Leandro Contín won them game one, before goals came from Lucas Calderón, Lucas Licht, Khalil Caraballo and José Paradela for a 5–0 win in game two. Days later, they played twice against Temperley; drawing 1–1 and winning 2–0. Diego Parini agreed to join GD Mirandês on 30 June. Ezequiel Bonifacio followed Moyano to Unión on 29 June.
Numerous loans from the previous campaign officially expired on and around 30 June. Santiago Silva left on 1 July, signing for Argentinos Juniors. Leonardo Morales and Maximiliano Caire came the other way, penning respective contracts from Santamarina and Defensa y Justicia. Lorenzo Faravelli secured a deal with Huracán on 2 July. Horacio Tijanovich scored as Gimnasia drew with Argentinos Juniors in a friendly on 3 July, prior to Jesús Vargas netting in the second match with the La Paternal outfit. Matías García sealed a return to Gimnasia on 3 July, after three years away with San Martín. Consecutive two-nil victories were recorded in friendlies with Fénix of the Uruguayan Primera División on 5 July. An offer from Genoa for Jan Hurtado was accepted on 9 July.
Gimnasia lost in two exhibition games on 10 July to Lanús. Hurtado, despite having an offer from Genoa accepted, completed a transfer to Boca Juniors on 11 July. Pablo Velázquez signed with the club later that day, penning terms from Nacional. Genoa's Claudio Spinelli arrived on loan on 15 July, twenty-four hours before to Marco Torsiglieri's incoming. Hernán Tifner and Daian García went to Huracán Las Heras on loan on 14 July. Maximiliano Comba, who was loaned in the previous season, received a permanent contract on 17 July, on a day that also saw them beat Atlético Chascomús across two friendlies.

### July

Gimnasia y Esgrima started their competitive campaign on 20 July, as they lost in the Copa Argentina round of thirty-two to Defensa y Justicia; going out on penalties following a 1–1 at home. Earlier in the day, a Gimnasia shadow eleven took part in a friendly with Platense - losing by two. Matías García scored on his first league appearance back with Gimnasia on 28 July, as his goal got them a point away from home against Lanús. Janeiler Rivas, after a spell in India with NorthEast United, moved to Gimnasia on 31 July.

### August

Brahian Alemán sealed a move in on 3 August from Al-Ettifaq, twelve months after he had joined the Saudi Arabian outfit from Gimnasia. After drawing versus Lanús, Gimnasia followed that up with a home loss at the hands of San Lorenzo on 4 August. Cristian Zone departed to Flandria on 8 August. Gimnasia played two thirty-minute friendlies with Independiente on 10 August, drawing initially before winning 2–0. On 14 August, it was reported that former player Santiago Silva had been provisionally suspended after he failed a drugs test; taken after a Copa de la Superliga match with Newell's Old Boys in April; Argentinos soon revealed Silva was going through fertility treatment at the time. Gianluca Simeone was loaned to Ibiza of Spain's Segunda División B on 13 August.
Gimnasia, on 19 August, lost 2–1 to Colón in the Primera División. Gonzalo Mottes signed for Defensores de Belgrano on 21 August. Gimnasia's losing run at the start their league campaign continued on 24 August, as Defensa y Justicia's Rafael Delgado scored to give his side the three points. A fourth straight loss arrived for Darío Ortiz's men on 31 August, with Argentinos Juniors defeating them at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona in a fixture that also saw senior debutant Khalil Caraballo get sent off.

### September

On 2 September, Gimnasia confirmed Darío Ortiz had mutually terminated his contract; with Leandro Martini and Mariano Messera coming in as joint-interim managers. Their stints lasted just days however, as 1986 FIFA World Cup winner Diego Maradona was unveiled as the new manager of Gimnasia on 5 September.

## Squad

| Squad No. | Nationality | Name | Position(s) | Date of Birth (age) | Signed from |
| Goalkeepers ||||||
| 1 | | Nelson Insfrán | GK | (1995-05-24) 24 May 1995 (age 29) | Academy |
| 12 | | Tomás Durso | GK | (1999-02-26) 26 February 1999 (age 25) | Academy |
| 31 | | Alexis Martín Arias | GK | (1992-07-04) 4 July 1992 (age 32) | Academy |
| Defenders ||||||
| 2 | | Jonathan Chacón | CB | (1998-02-27) 27 February 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| 4 | | Leonardo Morales | RB | (1991-04-11) 11 April 1991 (age 33) | Santamarina |
| 5 | | Janeiler Rivas | CB | (1988-05-18) 18 May 1988 (age 36) | NorthEast United |
| 6 | | Marco Torsiglieri | CB | (1988-01-12) 12 January 1988 (age 36) | Rosario Central |
| 15 | | Maximiliano Caire | RB | (1988-07-12) 12 July 1988 (age 36) | Defensa y Justicia |
| 23 | | Maximiliano Coronel | CB | (1989-04-28) 28 April 1989 (age 35) | River Plate |
| 24 | | Germán Guiffrey | CB | (1997-12-21) 21 December 1997 (age 26) | Academy |
| 25 | | Lucas Licht | LB | (1981-04-06) 6 April 1981 (age 43) | Racing Club |
| 27 | | Guillermo Enrique | RB | (2000-02-24) 24 February 2000 (age 24) | Academy |
| 28 | | Manuel Guanini | CB | (1996-02-14) 14 February 1996 (age 28) | Academy |
| 32 | | Matías Melluso | LB | (1998-06-09) 9 June 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| 36 | | Rodrigo Gallo | LB | (2000-02-24) 24 February 2000 (age 24) | Academy |
| Midfielders ||||||
| 7 | | Franco Mussis | CM | (1992-04-19) 19 April 1992 (age 32) | San Lorenzo |
| 10 | | Matías García | LM | (1991-10-22) 22 October 1991 (age 32) | San Martín |
| 14 | | Agustín Bolívar | DM | (1996-01-09) 9 January 1996 (age 28) | Academy |
| 16 | | Víctor Ayala | CM | (1988-01-01) 1 January 1988 (age 36) | Barcelona |
| 19 | | Juan Cataldi | AM | (1998-12-17) 17 December 1998 (age 25) | Academy |
| 20 | | Brahian Alemán | AM | (1989-12-23) 23 December 1989 (age 34) | Al-Ettifaq |
| 22 | | Matías Miranda | LM | (2000-05-05) 5 May 2000 (age 24) | Academy |
| 26 | | José Paradela | AM | (1998-12-15) 15 December 1998 (age 25) | Rivadavia |
| 34 | | Patricio Monti | DM | (1998-01-15) 15 January 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| 39 | | Lautaro Chávez | AM | (2001-01-17) 17 January 2001 (age 23) | Academy |
| | | Enzo Martínez | MF | (1996-09-09) 9 September 1996 (age 28) | Rivadavia |
| Forwards ||||||
| 8 | | Claudio Spinelli | CF | (1997-06-21) 21 June 1997 (age 27) | Genoa (loan) |
| 9 | | Leandro Contín | CF | (1995-12-07) 7 December 1995 (age 28) | Academy |
| 11 | | Horacio Tijanovich | LW | (1996-02-28) 28 February 1996 (age 28) | Defensores de Pronunciamiento |
| 13 | | Jesús Vargas | LW | (1999-08-26) 26 August 1999 (age 25) | Estudiantes de Mérida |
| 17 | | Pablo Velázquez | CF | (1987-03-12) 12 March 1987 (age 37) | Nacional |
| 29 | | Lucas Calderón | FW | (1998-06-30) 30 June 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| 30 | | Maximiliano Comba | RW | (1994-01-16) 16 January 1994 (age 30) | Estudiantes (RC) |
| 33 | | Matías Gómez | FW | (1998-08-10) 10 August 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| 37 | | Khalil Caraballo | FW | (1999-01-03) 3 January 1999 (age 25) | Academy |
| 43 | | Agustín Ramírez | FW | (2000-05-02) 2 May 2000 (age 24) | Academy |
| | | Braian Mansilla | CF | (1997-04-16) 16 April 1997 (age 27) | Racing Club (loan) |
| | | Eric Ramírez | RW | (1996-09-21) 21 September 1996 (age 28) | Academy |
| Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Loaned to |
| 18 | | Gianluca Simeone | CF | (1998-07-23) 23 July 1998 (age 26) | Ibiza |
| | | Daian García | RW | (1997-02-25) 25 February 1997 (age 27) | Huracán Las Heras |
| | | Nicolás Ortiz | CB | (1995-03-04) 4 March 1995 (age 29) | Olmedo |
| | | Hernán Tifner | AM | (1996-09-20) 20 September 1996 (age 28) | Huracán Las Heras |

## 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 | RB | Leonardo Morales | Santamarina |
| 3 July 2019 | RB | Maximiliano Caire | Defensa y Justicia |
| 3 July 2019 | LM | Matías García | San Martín |
| 11 July 2019 | CF | Pablo Velázquez | Nacional |
| 16 July 2019 | CB | Marco Torsiglieri | Rosario Central |
| 17 July 2019 | RW | Maximiliano Comba | Estudiantes (RC) |
| 31 July 2019 | CB | Janeiler Rivas | NorthEast United |
| 3 August 2019 | LM | Brahian Alemán | Al-Ettifaq |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To |
| 1 July 2019 | LM | Diego Parini | GD Mirandês |
| 3 July 2019 | RB | Facundo Oreja | Barracas Central |
| 3 July 2019 | GK | Sebastián Moyano | Unión Santa Fe |
| 3 July 2019 | RB | Ezequiel Bonifacio | Unión Santa Fe |
| 3 July 2019 | CF | Santiago Silva | Barracas Central |
| 3 July 2019 | AM | Lorenzo Faravelli | Huracán |
| 11 July 2019 | CF | Jan Hurtado | Boca Juniors |
| 8 August 2019 | FW | Cristian Zone | Flandria |
| 21 August 2019 | CB | Gonzalo Mottes | Defensores de Belgrano |

### Loans in

| Start date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | End date | Ref. |
| 15 July 2019 | CF | | Claudio Spinelli | Genoa | 30 June 2020 | |

### Loans out

| Start date | Position | Name | To | End date |
| 14 July 2019 | AM | Hernán Tifner | Huracán Las Heras | 30 June 2020 |
| 14 July 2019 | RW | Daian García | Huracán Las Heras | 30 June 2020 |
| 13 August 2019 | CF | Gianluca Simeone | Ibiza | 30 June 2020 |

## Friendlies
### Pre-season

On 14 June 2019, Gimnasia y Esgrima announced friendlies with Temperley (2), Argentinos Juniors (2) and Lanús. With the latter encounter coming away from home, the other fixtures would be played at the Estadio Juan Carmelo Zerillo. Prior to facing them, the club scheduled games with local La Plata outfit Everton for 26 June. Friendlies with Uruguayan team Fénix and local team Atlético Chascomús were also set.
Win  Draw  Loss

### Mid-season

27 July saw Gimnasia y Esgrima face. Gimnasia and Independiente would face-off in Villa Domínico in friendlies on 10 August.
Win  Draw  Loss

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 17 | Banfield | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 19 | 23 | −4 | 26 |
| 18 | Central Córdoba (SdE) | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 29 | −8 | 26 |
| 19 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 23 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 22 | 23 | −1 | 23 |
| 20 | Patronato | 23 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 22 | 34 | −12 | 23 |
| 21 | Huracán | 23 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 27 | −10 | 22 |

#### Relegation table

| Pos | Team | 2017–18 Pts | 2018–19 Pts | 2019–20 Pts | Total Pts | Total Pld | Avg | Relegation |
| 20 | Newell's Old Boys | 29 | 29 | 22 | 80 | 67 | 1.194 |
| 21 | Central Córdoba (SdE) | — | — | 18 | 18 | 16 | 1.125 |
| 22 | Aldosivi | — | 33 | 12 | 45 | 41 | 1.098 | Relegation to Primera B Nacional |
| 23 | Patronato | 33 | 26 | 13 | 72 | 67 | 1.075 | Relegation to Primera B Nacional |
| 24 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 27 | 29 | 14 | 70 | 68 | 1.029 | Relegation to Primera B Nacional |
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: 9 December 2019. Source: Soccerway

#### Matches

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

### Copa Argentina

Domestic rivals Defensa y Justicia were the team Gimnasia y Esgrima were drawn to play in the round of thirty-two, at Temperley's Estadio Alfredo Beranger - it is usual for Copa Argentina matches to be played on neutral territory.
Win  Draw  Loss

### Copa de la Superliga

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 | | Tomás Durso | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | CB | | Jonathan Chacón | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | RB | | Leonardo Morales | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | CB | | Janeiler Rivas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | CB | | Marco Torsiglieri | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 7 | RM | | Franco Mussis | 3(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 8 | CF | | Claudio Spinelli | 4(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 9 | CF | | Leandro Contín | 0(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | LM | | Matías García | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| 11 | LW | | Horacio Tijanovich | 4(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 12 | GK | | Nelson Insfrán | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | LW | | Jesús Vargas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | DM | | Agustín Bolívar | 1(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 15 | RB | | Maximiliano Caire | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| 16 | RM | | Víctor Ayala | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 17 | CF | | Pablo Velázquez | 2(3) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2(4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | CF | | Gianluca Simeone | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 19 | AM | | Juan Cataldi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 20 | LM | | Brahian Alemán | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 22 | LM | | Matías Miranda | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 23 | CB | | Maximiliano Coronel | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 24 | CB | | Germán Guiffrey | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 25 | LB | | Lucas Licht | 2(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 26 | AM | | José Paradela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 27 | DF | | Guillermo Enrique | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 28 | CB | | Manuel Guanini | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 29 | FW | | Lucas Calderón | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 30 | RW | | Maximiliano Comba | 4(1) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5(1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| 31 | GK | | Alexis Martín Arias | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 32 | LB | | Matías Melluso | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 33 | FW | | Matías Gómez | 0(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0(3) | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 34 | MF | | Patricio Monti | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 37 | FW | | Khalil Caraballo | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 39 | AM | | Lautaro Chávez | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 43 | FW | | Agustín Ramírez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | MF | | Enzo Martínez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | RW | | Daian García | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CF | | Braian Mansilla | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CB | | Nicolás Ortiz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | RW | | Eric Ramírez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | AM | | Hernán Tifner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | — | 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 | RW | 30 | | Maximiliano Comba | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | |
| 1 | LM | 10 | | Matías García | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | |
| 1 | CF | 17 | | Pablo Velázquez | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 3 | — |