Gameweek five in the Argentina Primera Division second phase pits Lanus against table-topping Racing Club at Estadio Ciudad de Lanus on Thursday night.
The home side face a daunting prospect to end the first-placed side's undefeated start in Buenos Aires.
Match preview
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Lanus' start to the 2024 top-flight season has been far from perfect, evidenced by one victory in their first four league matches this term.
If you consider the situation glass-half-empty, the one-win-in-four statistic will be reiterated. However, anyone looking at the positives will point to an ongoing three-match undefeated sequence since Ricardo Zielinski's men were beaten by Independiente Rivadavia on the opening day.
Lanus have avoided losing since that 2-0 home defeat, even if a 2-1 victory over Estudiantes has been diluted by 1-1 stalemates at San Lorenzo and Rosario Central.
While glass-half-full supporters will view five points from nine as something to build on, naysayers will criticise the team's broader results this term and failure to win in their last two in all competitions before Thursday's fixture, including their recent 1-1 league draw with Rosario Central.
Nevertheless, the 1-0 Copa Sudamericana defeat by Brazilian side Cuiaba was a dead-rubber for the Buenos Aires outfit, who had secured progress to the first knockout round as group winners.
Racing have no such issues heading into their fifth league fixture of the new campaign, underlined by a near-perfect start.
The club managed by Gustavo Costas sit top of the embryonic standings after four matches, scoring 12 times and conceding four.
Even though they are level on 10 points with three other sides — Talleres, Huracan and Union — La Acedemia's superior goal difference means they would be crowned champions were the competition to end now.
Only Belgrano have held Racing this season, with the 4-4 draw on the opening preceding a five-match success in all competitions for Costas's team.
Strikingly, La Academia have not conceded throughout that period, keeping clean sheets against Coquimbo Unido (3-0), Argentinos Juniors (3-0), Tigre (4-0), Sportivo Luqueno (3-0) and Deportovo Riestra (1-0) to underline their strength at both ends of the pitch.
Team News
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Leandro Diaz (hamstring) and Ezequiel Munoz (adductor) are anticipated to miss Thursday night's game owing to their injuries.
Walter Bou, scorer of 50% of Lanus' league goals, should start up top alongside Augusto Lotti. Bou netted six times in the Copa Sudamerica group stage, underscoring his menace in the penalty area.
Marcelino Moreno should carry the team's creativity burden, with his chance creation pivotal domestically and on the continent for the Buenos Aires club.
Racing are without the injured Fernando Prado (knee), German Conti (muscle) Johan Carbonero and Adrian Martinez (both ankle) for the gameweek five fixture. Juan Fernando Quintero has joined up with the Colombia squad for this summer's Copa America.
Maximiliano Salas has been involved in three goals in his last three appearances (two goals, one assist), and the forward aims to keep his run of either scoring or assisting for the fourth game running.
Roger Martinez (three goals) is the team's top scorer, while Gaston Martirena packs an attacking punch from right wing-back.
Lanus possible starting lineup:
Aguerre; Dominguez, Munoz, Luciatti; Morgantini, Loaiza, Biafore, Soler; Moreno; Bou, Lotti
Racing Club possible starting lineup:
Arias; Sosa, Di Cesare, Basso; Martirena, Rodriguez, Nardoni, Rojas; Salas, Martinez, Urzi
We say: Lanus 0-2 Racing Club
Making a case for Lanus against Racing in Buenos Aires is hard for two reasons: the hosts have not only secured inferior results in the league this term but have suffered five consecutive losses against their opponents before this week's meeting.
While that losing streak will end eventually, it is not expected to be in this season's encounter.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
