Arsenal Sarandi will be seeking to pick up their first win of the season when they play host to Talleres at the Estadio Julio Humberto Grondona on Saturday.

The Albiazul, who head into the weekend on a run of two consecutive defeats, will be looking to end this dry spell and get their Primera Division campaign up and running.

Match preview

Arsenal Sarandi showed pleasing signs of progress when they fought back from two goals down to salvage a 3-3 draw against San Lorenzo at the Estadio Pedro Bidegain last Tuesday.

Nestor Ortigoza, Jalil Elias and Ivan Leguizamon scored in succession to cancel out Lucas Suarez's first-half strike and put the hosts two goals up, but substitute Cristian Colman netted twice in a two-minute spell to force a share of the spoils.

Prior to that, Leonardo Madelon's men suffered a 2-1 defeat at Boca Juniors in the season opener on June 5 before playing out a somewhat disappointing home draw with Banfield six days later.

Los del Viaducto are one of nine sides in the Primera Division yet to taste victory after three rounds of matches and this has been owing to their shaky start at the defensive end of the pitch.

They now return home where they are currently on a run of just one win from their last seven outings across all competitions, claiming four draws and losing twice in that time.

While Arsenal Sarandi will be looking to end their winless start and get their campaign up and running, next up is the challenge of an opposing side who are unbeaten in each of their last four encounters since 2016.

Talleres, on the other hand, suffered a second consecutive defeat for the first time since April last time out when they were beaten 1-0 by Newell's Old Boys on home turf.

In a game where Rafael Perez received his marching orders, Ramiro Sordo's opening-minute strike was all that separated the sides at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.

This followed a similar 1-0 defeat at the hands of Independiente on June 6, when 28-year-old midfielder Lucas Romero struck in the 26th minute to hand the hosts all three points.

This slump in form could be pinned to their toothless display in the final third as Talleres have now failed to score in successive games for the first time since March, when they lost 1-0 against Racing Club and San Lorenzo respectively.

Pedro Caixinha's side head into the weekend on a run of just one win in 11 away games across all competitions since the turn of the year, losing eight and managing two draws in that time.

Team News

Talleres will take to the pitch without the services of 32-year-old Perez, who is suspended after receiving his marching orders against Newell's Old Boys last time out.

On the injury front, Caixinha will be unable to call upon Hector Fertoli and Ramiro Gonzalez, who are recuperating from chest and muscle problems respectively.

Diego Valoyes is set to sit out his ninth consecutive game after the Colombian forward came off injured against Sporting Cristal back in April.

Meanwhile, Arsenal Sarandi will make do with the absence of Argentine goalkeeper Axel Werner, who has been out of action since April's game against Barracas Central.

With his brace against San Lorenzo last time out, Colman now boasts six goal involvements in his last 10 outings and we expect the 28-year-old forward to spearhead the attack once again.

Arsenal Sarandi possible starting lineup:
Medina; Granados, Goni, Suarez, Perez; Picco, Miloc; Pitton, Kruspzky, Ibanez; Lomonaco

Talleres possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Benavidez, Catalan, Palacios, Diaz; Godoy, Villagra, Toloza; Esquivel, Santos, Girotti

We say: Arsenal Sarandi 1-2 Talleres

Arsenal de Sarandi and Talleres will head into the weekend in search of a pick-me-up after their slow start to the season. Considering past results between the sides, the Albiazul are slight favourites and we predict they will arrest their slump and come away with all three points, albeit by the odd goal.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Joshua Ojele

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