With the new 30 team competition format in Argentina set to get underway this Friday. It’s time for a look at last season’s frontrunners, and see who’s placed to go for domestic glory, as @FootballARGNews previews the Torneo 2015:

Racing Club:

Champions Racing Club have wisely (and perhaps uncharacteristically) opted for continuity heading into the 2015 campaign. Diego Cocca has however lost the scorer of the title-winning goal Ricardo Centurion to Brazilian side Sao Paolo, but has managed to capture an equally able recruit in young Paraguayan international Oscar Romero.

The men from El Cilindro have also added some depth by bringing in Cocca’s former Defensa y Justicia pupils forward – Brian Fernández and Uruguayan schemer Washington Camacho.

Being able to manage the demands of a Libertadores Cup and demanding a 30-team domestic schedule, whilst managing the fitness of their front pair Gustavo Bou, and moreover captain and last terms Player of the Season Diego Milito will prove key to La Academia’s success or failure.

River Plate:

A frustrating January window for Copa Sudamericana champions and last season’s runners-up River Plate, ultimately ended up with the desired arrivals of Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez from Huracan and Uruguayan hot prospect Camilo Mayada formerly of Danubio.

River boss Marcelo Gallardo has publicly insisted on adding “quality, not quantity”, and privately at least will no doubt have been relieved to have maintained last seasons core.

Having in large part shown last term that they are capable of juggling two competitions, and with a crop of youngsters who performed admirably at the Sudamericano Sub-20, few would bet against River Plate being there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

Lanus:

Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s Lanus have bucked their recent tradition of cashing in on their stars come the end of the campaign, by this year crucially actually investing in replacing them.

In this their centenary season, El Grana have added the excellent Fernando Monetti in goal, and addressed last term’s creativity issues by brining back former Liverpool FC midfielder and Lanus fan favourite Sebastian Leto, though a freak injury to the latter could have a serious impact on their title aspirations.

Nonetheless Lanus are still expected to be competitive, and the most likely team outside of the “big five” to challenge for the title.

Independiente:

Independiente where arguably the Torneo De Transicion’s surprise package. Last time around, being a newly promoted side with a manager pointed on the eve of the campaign, Los Diablos Rojos managed to upset the odds and finish a highly credible fourth.

This time around, they have added in abundance, bringing in talented Colombian forward Jose “Trencito” Valencia, veteran Argentina left back Emiliano Papa, and the highly rated duo of forward Lucas Albertengo (Ateltico Rafaela) and full back Nico Tagliafico from CA Banfield, amongst many others!

Despite the incessant in fighting that has accompanied Independiente over the last few years, Jorge Almiron’s men are expected to continue to challenge, and entertain along the way as they do so.

Boca Juniors:

The “Jekyll & Hyde” of Argentine football of late, it remains a thankless task to predict which Boca Juniors will turn up in 2015.

In Rodolfo Arruabarrena Los Xeneize arguably have the right man to steer in this transitional time. And alongside Independiente, Boca have arguably had ne of the most eye-catching transfer windows bringing in proven quality with the likes of Gino Peruzzi (Catania Calcio)Pablo Perez (Malaga FC) and most eye-catching of all Uruguayan Number 10 Nicolas Lodeiro, and nomadic striker Pablo “Dani” Osvaldo who’s loan from Southampton to Inter Milan was terminated early for disciplinary reasons.

Fittingly, Osvaldo perhaps represents Boca’s gamble, who on their day could run riot in Argentine football… or on another could cause one!

Best of the rest:

Under the stewardship of new president Juan Sebastian “La Brujita” Veron, Estudiantes De La Plata have endured a difficult January window, loosing their star turn in midfielder Joaquin Correa to U.C Sampdoria,but have counterbalanced this somewhat by bringing in a host of youngsters from the lower divisions, and experienced Uruguay international fullback Alvaro Perreira, alongside former Boca Juniors midfielder Juan Sánchez Miño from a very brief spell in Serie A with Torino. Though if preseason form is anything to go by doubts still remain over Los Pincharratasability to compete at the very top of the championship.

Arguably last seasons biggest underachievers, reigning Libertadores Champions San Lorenzo have finally set to the task of replacing the departed Nacho Piatti and Angelito Correa bringing in the notable likes of Matias Caruzzo (Argentinos Juniors) Franco Mussis (Genoa Calcio) and former West Bromwhich Albion winger Sebastian Blanco. With no World Club Cup distractions this time around, much is expected of Eduardo Bauza’s men.

Both Velez Sarsfield & Newell’s Old Boys head into the season under new management. Miguel Angel Russo and Americo “El Tolo” Gallego face the thankless task of reinventing two distinguished historical sides who’s fortunes have waned of late, and do so on a shoe string budget. Needless to say this is not an ideal combination.

The season ahead promises to be one of the most unpredictable in recent history, with 10 new teams added, countless first time encounters and many teams spending big. The return to the league of the likes Lucas Viatri (Banfield) Marco Ruben and Cesar Chelito Delgado (Rosario Central) and even Diego Buonanotte (CA Quilmes) shows the ambition of the so-called smaller clubs to challenge for the top, therefore an action packed Torneo 2015 is (virtually) guaranteed!