The uneasy first half of Huracán’s sixth season under Gabriel Batistuta
By Mateo Ledesma – Revista Fútbol Federal
The first half of Gabriel Batistuta’s sixth season in charge of Huracán has been, in many ways, the purest expression of everything his project represents and everything it still lacks.
It is also the first full chapter of a new internal mandate. After years of gradual youth integration, Daniel Vega made his position clear: the investment in the academy must now return value, not in promise, but in minutes, points and identity. Batistuta accepted the challenge. What followed has been a campaign defined by conviction, frustration and data that refuses to lie.
Results: One Point Short, Many Questions Raised
Huracán finished the Torneo Apertura one point outside the playoff places.
The raw numbers are blunt:
- 16 matches
- 7 wins, 2 draws, 7 defeats
- 27 goals scored, 25 conceded
A perfectly imperfect balance. Not failure, but not enough.
Batistuta cut a visibly frustrated figure in the final weeks. The reasons were familiar and at times, unavoidable. Young teams oscillate. They shine one week and unravel the next. Huracán were capable of overwhelming opponents with tempo and chance creation, only to fall apart through poor decision-making at key moments.
What the Data Really Tells Us
Look beyond the table and Huracán become one of the most fascinating analytical cases in Argentine football.
They rank among the league’s best in:
- Pass completion
- Tackles won ratio
- Goals per game
- Non-penalty expected goals per game
- Shots per game
- Cross completion
- Dribbles attempted per game
- Final third passes per game
This is not a passive side. This is a team that wants the ball, wins it aggressively, progresses it quickly and creates volume.
And yet…
They also rank among the league’s worst in:
- Shots on target ratio
- Clean sheets
- Possession won per game
- Discipline (highest fouls committed)
The contradiction is clear. Huracán dominate phases without controlling matches. They arrive often but finish poorly. They recover the ball high, but not cleanly. They attack with ambition, but defend with naivety.
In short:
This is a team playing Menotti football with youth-level margins for error.
Where Batistuta Can Improve the Model
Batistuta does not need to abandon his ideas but he must refine them.
- Shot selection over shot volume
Huracán shoot a lot, but badly. Better spacing, calmer final decisions and clearer shooting lanes must be a focus. - Rest defence and fouls management
The high foul count reveals desperation, not aggression. Better positioning behind the ball would reduce transitions and needless bookings. - Leadership structures on the pitch
Youth without hierarchy becomes chaos under pressure. Defined on-field communicators are essential, even among young players. - Game-state control
Huracán play every match at one speed. Learning when to slow the game is the next step toward maturity.
The Youth Intake: Quantity with Clear Philosophical Direction
After last season’s underwhelming intake, Daniel Vega responded decisively. Seven players were offered professional contracts, signalling a renewed belief in depth rather than star hunting.
José Luis Castro (16) – Goalkeeper
A brave, proactive goalkeeper with strong hands and sharp reflexes. Castro is comfortable attacking the ball and shows courage rushing off his line. In a Batistuta side that defends high, his mentality fits perfectly. The next step is distribution under pressure.
David Ruocco (15) – Left Back
Raw but promising. Quick, brave and physically ahead of his age group, Ruocco thrives on work rate. Technically limited for now, but Menotti football values repetition and intelligence areas where Ruocco shows willingness to learn.
Leandro Giaquinto (15) – Centre Back
At 6’6”, Giaquinto is impossible to ignore. Aggressive, dominant in the air and imposing physically, he is not built for early build-up phases yet. Batistuta sees him as a long-term project: a defender who secures space so others can play.
Miquel Balaguer (15) – Defender
Dual-footed and versatile, Balaguer can operate across the back line. His aggression and fitness align with Huracán’s pressing identity. Comfortable on the ball without being flashy, he profiles as a modern rotational defender.
Ezequiel Sánchez (15) – Defensive Midfielder / Centre Back
Perhaps the most intellectually mature of the intake. Sánchez reads the game well, chooses the right option and shows leadership traits. His versatility makes him a tactical asset in Batistuta’s fluid structures.
Cristian García (15) – Left Midfielder
Technically sound with good passing range, García lacks physical presence. In a Menotti system, that is not a death sentence but development will be gradual. Improving his dribbling and strength will define his ceiling.
Damián Acosta (15) – Attacking Midfielder
The most exciting profile. Quick, determined and creative, Acosta plays with flair but works hard defensively. He sees passes early and attacks space instinctively exactly the kind of footballer Batistuta believes in.
A Market Opportunity: Hans Usme
After 12 months without a first-team signing, Daniel Vega finally moved.
Hans Usme, 18, arrives from América de Cali for $1 million a rare external investment in a youth-driven project.
He is not a destroyer like Tomás Delogu. He is a controller.
A metronome.
Quick, technically secure and relentless in his work rate, Usme offers something Huracán have lacked: rhythm control. With 57 top-flight appearances already, he brings experience without sacrificing youth.
His presence should:
- Reduce fouls through better positioning
- Improve build-up structure
- Stabilise transitions
- Free Peralta and Urtasun to create higher up the pitch
In many ways, Usme is the glue this side has been missing.
The Second Half: Proof of Learning
The second half of the season is not about results alone. It is about evolution.
Huracán must show:
- Improved efficiency, not just intensity
- Better defensive discipline
- Smarter game management
- Clear progress from its young core
Daniel Vega’s gamble is no longer theoretical. It is visible, measurable and exposed every weekend.
If this team can turn dominance into control, chances into goals and youth into leadership, then Batistuta’s sixth season may yet be remembered not as a step back but as the moment Huracán truly committed to its future.
The belief is there.
Now comes the proof.
The Gaffers Lounge 
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