Two sides currently separated by just a single point in the overall table will square off in the second phase of the Argentine Primera Division campaign as Huracan plat host to Instituto on Sunday at Estadio Tomas Adolfo Duco.
A 1-1 draw versus Banfield last weekend kept Quemeros narrowly above Instituto in the cumulative standings as the latter claimed that same result versus Union.
Match preview
© Reuters
Huracan are slowly inching their way up the overall table, currently on a five-match unbeaten run in the Primera Division.
However, they missed another opportunity last weekend to gain some ground in the race for a spot in the Copa Sudamericana next season, sitting seven points behind Defensa y Justicia for that final place and squandering their seventh point of the season when scoring first.
In their last seven domestic home fixtures, Frank Dario Kudelka's men have collected at least a single point each time, coming away with maximum points in three successive league games at Estadio Tomas Adolfo Duco.
With another victory on Saturday, they will match their longest winning run at home in this competition from a season ago, suffering just one defeat in Parque Patricios domestically this year (2-1 versus Talleres).
Globo have been extremely compact along the back end at home in the 2024 Primera Division campaign, posting a clean sheet in five of eight contests.
They have lost their last two domestic encounters versus Instituto ACC by a combined margin of 5-1, including their previous home contest against them last year (3-1).
Having a three-week break seems to have done Instituto some good, as they look like a different side in the second phase of this domestic campaign.
Albirrojo ended the opening phase on a five-match losing run, but on Sunday, they can extend their unbeaten run in this competition to three matches.
Diego Dabove's men claimed three victories away from home in the first phase of this competition, with over half of their points in round one coming on the road.
To this stage of the 2024 Primera Division campaign, they have failed to win three encounters when netting the opening goal, dropping eight points as a result.
They have found the back of the net in five consecutive league contests, their longest run with at least one goal domestically since 2021 when they were in the Primera Nacional (six).
Instituto have never lost an away match against Huracan, winning their previous visit to Estadio Tomas Adolfo Duco last year (3-1).
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- D
- L
- L
- L
- L
- W
- D
Team News
Hernan de la Fuente is not expected to return to the Huracan lineup until early June with a thigh injury, while Cesar Ibanez was the only newcomer to the starting 11 on matchday two, who did not begin their matchday one encounter in this phase, replacing Guillermo Benitez.
A 14th-minute strike courtesy of Hector Fertoli was all that this side could manage against Banfield, their only effort on target in that encounter.
Miguel Brizuela is a few weeks away from fully recovering from his muscle strain, while Roberto Bochi, Matias Romero and Fernando Alarcon all have knee injuries.
Jonas Acevedo will miss this match due to a red card suspension, while Santiago Rodriguez scored their only goal against Union.
Huracan possible starting lineup:
Galindez; Souto, Tobio, Carrizo, Ibanez; Alarcon, Echeverria, Fertoli; Mazzanti, Pussetto, Cabral
Instituto possible starting lineup:
Roffo; Franco, Requena, Cabrera, Bay; Puebla, Dubersarsky, Cuello, Russo; Rodriguez, Suarez
We say: Huracan 2-1 Instituto
Instituto may have a better record against Huracan, but we believe the home side are due for a break, while they have been much more clinical in the attacking third of late.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
