San Lorenzo and Sarmiento will be hoping to record their first win of the Argentine Primera Division second phase when they meet at Estadio Pedro Bidegain on Monday night.
Both sides have only managed one point so far in the second round of the league, although the hosts have played only two games while the visitors have played three.
Match preview
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It feels like a long time since San Lorenzo earned qualification for the Copa Libertadores last season. They only managed 16 points in 14 games during the first phase and have stumbled out the blocks in the second.
Los Santos kicked off the second phase with a 1-0 defeat away to Deportiva Riestra and followed that up with a 1-1 draw at home against Lanus, with Cristian Ferreira salvaging a point for the side after they went behind early in the first half.
Since arriving at Estadio Pedro Bidegain on April 19, Leandro Romagnoli has posted a record of two wins, two draws and two losses in his first six games in charge, though he is yet to secure his first league victory, while his side are winless in their last five in the Primera Division.
However, despite their domestic league difficulties, San Lorenzo have fared well in the continental cup competition, as they secured qualification to the round of 16 with a crucial 0-0 draw against Palmeiras in midweek, which saw them edge out Independiente del Valle into second place by one point.
The hosts have also maintained an impressive home record this season, currently unbeaten in their last three matches across all competitions, while having only suffered defeat once in their last 11 games on home soil.
Meanwhile, Sarmiento will be hoping to bring a poor run of results against this opponent to an end here. They have failed to beat San Lorenzo in their last four attempts, which included a 1-0 loss when they met back in March in the first phase of the campaign.
However, Sarmiento are not in good form at the moment. In fact, since losing to this opponent in mid-March, Verde Verdolaga have been on a downward spiral, losing six of their last seven league games while picking up just one point in that time, drawing 1-1 against Barracas Central a couple of weeks ago.
Across the entire first phase of the campaign, Israel Damonte's side earned a mere nine points, including two wins, three draws and nine losses to end second bottom, four points above basement club Tigre.
On the road, Damonte has only tasted victory once since joining the club back in February, although that was the only win his side have managed in 2024, and they enter this match winless in their last three.
Team News
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Gaston Gomez suffered a training injury and has been ruled out for this match, although Facundo Altamirano returned at just the right moment from his recovery and should resume duty between the sticks.
Manuel Insaurralde and Gaston Hernandez have been out since March and are expected to remain sidelined for extended periods due to cruciate ligament tears.
Sarmiento will have to make do without the services of defender Nahuel Gallardo, who was shown a straight red in last week's 1-0 loss to Independiente Rivadavia, and he will begin the first of his three-match suspension in this one.
Lucas Acosta and Lisandro Lopez are out with a sprained ankle and muscle injury respectively, although both players are expected to return to action in the next couple of weeks. Agustin Molina is the only long-term absentee owing to an ACL injury.
San Lorenzo possible starting lineup:
Altamirano; Giay, Romana, Campi, Braida; Irala, Remedi, Barrios, Ferreira, Leguizamon; Bareiro
Sarmiento possible starting lineup:
Pourtau; Oaredes, Insaurralde, Hernandez; Lopz, Gudino, Godoy, Garcia, Diaz; Quiroga, Fontana
We say: San Lorenzo 1-0 Sarmiento
While San Lorenzo have struggled to find their best form in the league this season, their Copa Libertadores results have shown that they are able to lift their game when needed. With the continental competition group stage now done, Los Santos can refocus on getting their league campaign back on track, and we feel they will start with a victory in this match.
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