# 2019–20 Rosario Central season

The 2019–20 season is Rosario Central'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

Rosario Central's first incoming was Josué Ayala, who came permanently from Temperley. On 11 June 2019, Rosario Central announced the signing of Ciro Rius; the right winger, who joined from Defensa y Justicia, would make his unofficial debut four days later as the club played their first friendly. Argentino visited the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito on 15 June, and were subsequently dispatched 2–0. 19 June saw Washington Camacho leave for Tijuana. A deal with Unión Santa Fe was reached, subject to personal terms and medicals, on 20 June for the transfers of Emanuel Brítez and Diego Zabala. They were completed a day later. Their next match was played on 22 June, as they beat Sportivo Las Parejas with Claudio Riaño, Fabián Rinaudo, Facundo Almada and Ortigoza goals.
Left-back Gonzalo Bettini was signed by Huracán on 27 June. Ciro Rius scored for them for the first time on 29 June, netting in a friendly victory over their reserves. Numerous loans from the previous campaign officially expired on and around 30 June. Marcos Martinich left for Temperley on 1 July. Luciano Recalde headed off to Platense on 5 July. Diego Novaretti arrived from Querétaro on 5 July, penning a two-year contract. Nicolás Giménez was transferred to San Martín on 5 July. Rosario lost on penalties in an exhibition match at the Estadio Manuel Ferreira against Olimpia on 6 July. They met Rosario-based Central Córdoba in a friendly on 10 July, winning 2–1 at the Estadio Arroyo Seco. Sebastián Ribas moved in on loan from Lanús on 11 July.
Primera B Nacional's Temperley captured centre-back Fernando Alarcón on 12 July. They played out consecutive goalless draws with Unión Santa Fe on 13 July on home soil. Marco Torsiglieri departed to Gimnasia y Esgrima on 16 July, while Duván Vergara penned loan terms with homeland club América de Cali on loan. A Maximiliano Lovera penalty helped Rosario defeat Fénix in a 17 July pre-season friendly. Rosario failed to gain a win on 20 July in exhibition games with Arsenal de Sarandí. Agustín Coscia, the top goalscorer in their reserves, was loaned to Almagro on 24 July. Matías Palavecino switched Argentina for Cyprus on 26 July, as ASIL of the Second Division revealed his arrival. Facundo Rizzi went to Villa Dálmine on 27 July.

### July

Rosario Central began their league campaign with a victory on the road against Atlético Tucumán on 29 July, with new signing Ciro Rius netting alongside Leonardo Gil. Also on that date, Hernán Da Campo was loaned to Chacarita Juniors. Nicolás Colazo, from Boca Juniors, became Diego Cocca's sixth new signing on 30 July.

### August

On 1 August, Rosario announced the arrival of Lucas Gamba from Huracán on a three-year contract. Soon after, Alfonso Parot's departure to Universidad Católica was confirmed. A goal versus Talleres from off-season signing Diego Zabala secured Rosario two wins from two in the Primera División on 3 August. Rosario shared victories with Sarmiento in exhibition fixtures on 6 August. Rosario met Argentino in friendly action again on 9 August, as they beat them by scoring twice, as they did on 15 June, in both games. Andrés Lioi headed to Poland on loan with Korona Kielce of the Ekstraklasa on 13 August. San Lorenzo and Rosario Central cancelled each other out on 17 August, as Rosario threw away a two-goal advantage to draw 2–2 which ended winning starts for both.
Rosario made it four undefeated in the league on 24 August, after drawing at home to Patronato; Maximiliano Lovera scored for them. On 31 August, Lovera was sold to Olympiacos.

### September

Rosario experienced their third tie in a row on 1 September after a 1–1 scoreline with Colón, though the result did extend their unbeaten streak to five matches.

## Squad

| Squad No. | Nationality | Name | Position(s) | Date of Birth (age) | Signed from |
| Goalkeepers ||||||
| 1 | | Jeremías Ledesma | GK | (1993-02-13) 13 February 1993 (age 31) | Academy |
| 30 | | Marcelo Miño | GK | (1997-08-21) 21 August 1997 (age 27) | Academy |
| 31 | | Josué Ayala | GK | (1988-05-30) 30 May 1988 (age 36) | Temperley |
| Defenders ||||||
| 2 | | Matías Caruzzo | CB | (1984-08-15) 15 August 1984 (age 40) | San Lorenzo |
| 4 | | Nahuel Molina | RB | (1997-12-02) 2 December 1997 (age 26) | Boca Juniors (loan) |
| 6 | | Miguel Barbieri | CB | (1993-08-24) 24 August 1993 (age 31) | Racing Club (loan) |
| 14 | | Diego Novaretti | CB | (1985-05-09) 9 May 1985 (age 39) | Querétaro |
| 16 | | Rodrigo González | RB | (2000-04-14) 14 April 2000 (age 24) | Academy |
| 32 | | Facundo Almada | CB | (1998-07-10) 10 July 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| 33 | | Emanuel Brítez | RB | (1992-03-26) 26 March 1992 (age 32) | Unión Santa Fe |
| 35 | | Iván Antúnez | DF | (1998-04-23) 23 April 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| | | José Leguizamón | CB | (1991-08-23) 23 August 1991 (age 33) | Olimpia |
| Midfielders ||||||
| 5 | | Leonardo Gil | CM | (1991-05-31) 31 May 1991 (age 33) | Estudiantes |
| 7 | | Joaquín Pereyra | LM | (1998-12-01) 1 December 1998 (age 25) | Academy |
| 8 | | Agustín Allione | LM | (1994-10-28) 28 October 1994 (age 29) | Palmeiras |
| 10 | | Néstor Ortigoza | DM | (1984-10-07) 7 October 1984 (age 40) | Olimpia |
| 11 | | Jonás Aguirre | AM | (1992-03-05) 5 March 1992 (age 32) | Academy |
| 15 | | Rodrigo Villagra | CM | (2001-02-14) 14 February 2001 (age 23) | Academy |
| 18 | | Francesco Lo Celso | MF | (2000-03-05) 5 March 2000 (age 24) | Academy |
| 21 | | Fabián Rinaudo | DM | (1987-05-08) 8 May 1987 (age 37) | Gimnasia y Esgrima |
| 22 | | Diego Zabala | RW | (1991-09-19) 19 September 1991 (age 33) | Unión Santa Fe |
| 25 | | Emmanuel Ojeda | CM | (1997-11-05) 5 November 1997 (age 26) | Academy |
| | | Diego Becker | LM | (1997-11-24) 24 November 1997 (age 26) | Academy |
| | | Nicolás Colazo | LM | (1990-07-08) 8 July 1990 (age 34) | Boca Juniors |
| | | Maximiliano González | CM | (1994-03-12) 12 March 1994 (age 30) | Academy |
| | | Joel López Pissano | AM | (1997-01-06) 6 January 1997 (age 27) | Academy |
| Forwards ||||||
| 9 | | Claudio Riaño | CF | (1988-08-04) 4 August 1988 (age 36) | Necaxa |
| 12 | | Ciro Rius | RW | (1988-10-27) 27 October 1988 (age 35) | Defensa y Justicia |
| 17 | | Alan Marinelli | FW | (1999-04-07) 7 April 1999 (age 25) | Academy |
| 20 | | Fernando Zampedri | CF | (1988-02-14) 14 February 1988 (age 36) | Atlético Tucumán |
| 23 | | Sebastián Ribas | CF | (1988-03-11) 11 March 1988 (age 36) | Lanús (loan) |
| 28 | | Lucas Gamba | CF | (1987-06-24) 24 June 1987 (age 37) | Huracán |
| 39 | | Oscar Retamal | RW | (1998-03-23) 23 March 1998 (age 26) | Academy |
| | | Pablo Becker | LW | (1993-04-29) 29 April 1993 (age 31) | Academy |
| | | Germán Herrera | RW | (1983-07-19) 19 July 1983 (age 41) | Vasco da Gama |
| | | Rodrigo Migone | CF | (1996-06-06) 6 June 1996 (age 28) | Academy |
| Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Out on loan | Loaned to |
| 37 | | Duván Vergara | CF | (1996-09-09) 9 September 1996 (age 28) | América de Cali |
| | | Agustín Coscia | CF | (1997-04-08) 8 April 1997 (age 27) | Almagro |
| | | Hernán Da Campo | RM | (1994-08-06) 6 August 1994 (age 30) | Chacarita Juniors |
| | | Elías Gómez | LB | (1994-06-09) 9 June 1994 (age 30) | Argentinos Juniors |
| | | Andrés Lioi | RM | (1997-03-07) 7 March 1997 (age 27) | Korona Kielce |
| | | Agustín Maziero | CF | (1997-11-27) 27 November 1997 (age 26) | Magallanes |
| | | Leonel Rivas | AM | (1999-12-04) 4 December 1999 (age 24) | Talleres |
| | | Marco Ruben | CF | (1986-10-26) 26 October 1986 (age 37) | Athletico Paranaense |

## 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 | Josué Ayala | Temperley |
| 3 July 2019 | RW | Ciro Rius | Defensa y Justicia |
| 3 July 2019 | RB | Emanuel Brítez | Unión Santa Fe |
| 3 July 2019 | RW | Diego Zabala | Unión Santa Fe |
| 5 July 2019 | CB | Diego Novaretti | Querétaro |
| 30 July 2019 | LB | Nicolás Colazo | Boca Juniors |
| 1 August 2019 | CF | Lucas Gamba | Huracán |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To |
| 19 June 2019 | LM | Washington Camacho | Tijuana |
| 3 July 2019 | LB | Gonzalo Bettini | Huracán |
| 3 July 2019 | CB | Marcos Martinich | Temperley |
| 5 July 2019 | CB | Luciano Recalde | Platense |
| 5 July 2019 | CB | Nicolás Giménez | San Martín |
| 12 July 2019 | CB | Fernando Alarcón | Temperley |
| 16 July 2019 | CB | Marco Torsiglieri | Gimnasia y Esgrima |
| 26 July 2019 | LB | Facundo Rizzi | Villa Dálmine |
| 26 July 2019 | AM | Matías Palavecino | ASIL |
| 1 August 2019 | LB | Alfonso Parot | Universidad Católica |
| 31 August 2019 | RM | Maximiliano Lovera | Olympiacos |

### Loans in

| Start date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | End date | Ref. |
| 11 July 2019 | CF | | Sebastián Ribas | Lanús | 30 June 2020 | |

### Loans out

| Start date | Position | Name | To | End date |
| 16 July 2019 | CF | Duván Vergara | América de Cali | 30 June 2020 |
| 24 July 2019 | CF | Agustín Coscia | Almagro | 30 June 2020 |
| 29 July 2019 | RM | Hernán Da Campo | Chacarita Juniors | 30 June 2020 |
| 13 August 2019 | RM | Andrés Lioi | Korona Kielce | 30 June 2020 |

## Friendlies
### Pre-season

Rosario Central's first pre-season fixture was revealed on 12 June 2019 against city rivals Argentino, set for 15 June, which was followed by the announcement of friendlies in Asunción, Paraguay with Paraguayan Primera División side Olimpia, set for 6 July, and Sol De Mayo; though the latter was later cancelled. On 14 June, Unión Santa Fe scheduled a match with Rosario Central for 13 July. On 21 June, the club announced a behind-closed-doors friendly with Sportivo Las Parejas was set for the following day. They met their reserves on 29 June. A game for 10 July in Arroyo Seco versus Central Córdoba (R) was scheduled. They were set to also face Talleres, but that fixture was later cancelled. Fénix and Arsenal de Sarandí games were added on 16 July.
Win  Draw  Loss

### Mid-season

Rosario met Sarmiento on 6 August in Arroyo Seco. They'd play Argentino on 9 August, just less than two months since their previously meeting on 15 June.
Win  Draw  Loss

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 7 | Lanús | 23 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 32 | 29 | +3 | 36 |
| 8 | San Lorenzo | 23 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 32 | 30 | +2 | 36 |
| 9 | Rosario Central | 23 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 31 | 29 | +2 | 36 |
| 10 | Newell's Old Boys | 23 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 33 | 25 | +8 | 35 |
| 11 | Arsenal | 23 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 37 | 32 | +5 | 34 |

#### Relegation table

| Pos | Team | 2017–18 Pts | 2018–19 Pts | 2019–20 Pts | Total Pts | Total Pld | Avg | Relegation |
| 20 | Banfield | 35 | 29 | 4 | 68 | 57 | 1.193 |
| 21 | Colón | 41 | 23 | 4 | 68 | 57 | 1.193 |
| 22 | Rosario Central | 32 | 26 | 9 | 67 | 57 | 1.175 | Relegation to Primera B Nacional |
| 23 | Central Córdoba (SdE) | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | Relegation to Primera B Nacional |
| 24 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) | 27 | 29 | 1 | 57 | 57 | 1 | 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: 1 September 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

## 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 | | Jeremías Ledesma | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | CB | | Matías Caruzzo | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 4 | RB | | Nahuel Molina | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | CM | | Leonardo Gil | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 6 | CB | | Miguel Barbieri | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 7 | LM | | Joaquín Pereyra | 0(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | LM | | Agustín Allione | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | CF | | Claudio Riaño | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | DM | | Néstor Ortigoza | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | AM | | Jonás Aguirre | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | RW | | Ciro Rius | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | CB | | Diego Novaretti | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 15 | CM | | Rodrigo Villagra | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | RB | | Rodrigo González | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | FW | | Alan Marinelli | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | MF | | Francesco Lo Celso | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 20 | CF | | Fernando Zampedri | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 21 | DM | | Fabián Rinaudo | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 22 | RW | | Diego Zabala | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 23 | CF | | Sebastián Ribas | 0(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 25 | CM | | Emmanuel Ojeda | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 28 | CF | | Lucas Gamba | 1(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1(3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 30 | GK | | Marcelo Miño | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 31 | GK | | Josué Ayala | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 32 | CB | | Facundo Almada | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 33 | RB | | Emanuel Brítez | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 35 | DF | | Iván Antúnez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 37 | CF | | Duván Vergara | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 39 | RW | | Oscar Retamal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | LM | | Diego Becker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | LW | | Pablo Becker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | LM | | Nicolás Colazo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CF | | Agustín Coscia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | RM | | Hernán Da Campo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | LB | | Elías Gómez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CM | | Maximiliano González | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | RW | | Germán Herrera | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CB | | José Leguizamón | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | RM | | Andrés Lioi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CF | | Rodrigo Migone | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | AM | | Joel López Pissano | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CF | | Agustín Maziero | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | AM | | Leonel Rivas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| – | CF | | Marco Ruben | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | — | 0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | — | — | — |
| Players who left during the season |||||||||||||||||
| 24 | LB | | Alfonso Parot | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 34 | RM | | Maximiliano Lovera | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | – | LM | Washington Camacho | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Statistics accurate as of 1 September 2019.

### Goalscorers

| Rank | Pos | No. | Nat | Name | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | Ref |
| 1 | RW | 12 | | Ciro Rius | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | |
| 1 | CF | 9 | | Claudio Riaño | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | |
| 2 | CM | 5 | | Leonardo Gil | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | |
| 2 | RW | 22 | | Diego Zabala | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | |
| 2 | RW | 34 | | Maximiliano Lovera | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 7 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 | — |