Still seeking their first victory in the second phase of the Argentine Primer Division campaign, Defensa y Justicia will host Platense on Monday at Estadio Norberto "Tito" Tomaghello.
In their previous encounter on Wednesday, Defensa played to a 1-1 draw with Talleres Cordoba, while Marron were beaten 2-0 by Velez Sarsfield.
Match preview
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The points keep piling up for Francisco Meneghini's men in the second round of this competition, but that has done little to their overall position in the table.
Defensa have claimed four successive draws domestically and five in their seven league contests in this phase, putting them up to 12th overall, a point below a place in the Copa Sudamericana next season.
In this phase, they have yet to lose a match played at Estadio Norberto "Tito" Tomaghello and have not lost at home since the opening round of the Copa Argentina in March, when Atletico Rafaela beat them 2-1.
Their seven-match winless run domestically is the longest stretch for them without a victory in a single phase of this competition since going eight games without a triumph in 2021.
El Halcon have never lost a home contest against Platense, claiming a 3-0 result when they previously met them at home in late January.
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Throughout the 2024 domestic campaign, Platense have remained comfortably positioned in the table despite their inconsistencies from one match to the next.
Favio Orsi and Sergio Gomez have not seen their side win or lose consecutive games domestically in this phase, as they sit 26th in the overall table, 15 points above the relegation line and six below a place in the Sudamericana.
On Monday, they have a chance to win consecutive league contests away from home for the first time since October 2021.
Calamares are also in danger of losing consecutive domestic encounters for the first time all year and the first time since late June to early July 2023.
All three of their defeats in this phase have occurred when they have conceded the opening goal while they are unbeaten when drawing first blood.
Team News
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We saw the same starting 11 for Defensa from matchday six to seven, with David Barbona and Gaston Togni still recovering from cruciate ligament tears.
A ninth-minute strike from Aaron Molinas was not enough to give them maximum points on Wednesday as they conceded the equaliser two minutes into the second half.
In their defeat to Velez Sarsfield, Platense were missing Juan Ignacio Saborido due to a broken foot, Gabriel Hechen, Franco Minerva, Juan Pablo Goicochea and Leonel Picco all have muscle injuries, while Ivan Gomez is dealing with a hamstring strain.
There were two changes made to their starting 11 from matchday six to seven as Juan Pablo Cozzani replaced Nicolas Sumavil in goal, and Franco Zapiola was preferred in midfield over Braian Rivero.
Defensa y Justicia possible starting lineup:
Fiermarin; Ferreira, Aguilera, Ramos Mingo; Portillo, J. Lopez, Gutierrez, Galvan; Molinas, Miritello, Osorio
Platense possible starting lineup:
Cozzani; Schelotto, Vazquez, Suso, Marcich; Picco; Mainero, Juarez, Rivero, Ocampo; Pellegrino
We say: Defensa y Justicia 1-1 Platense
Five of the eight meetings between these sides have resulted in a draw, and we expect another close encounter on Monday, with neither looking convincing enough for us to believe they will claim maximum points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
