Sarmiento will face Belgrano at Estadio Eva Peron on Sunday evening in the ninth round of the 2024 Argentine Primera Division.
The home side have a poor record against their visitors, having won just one of eight encounters between them, and have never triumphed as hosts of this fixture.
Match preview
© Imago
Sarmiento's inconsistent form continued with a 1-0 defeat to River Plate at Estadio Monumental last Sunday, leaving them with two losses and a win from their last three league matches.
Israel Damonte's side are 18th in the table with 10 points, but their advantage over relegation-threatened Tigre has dwindled to seven points in the aggregate table.
Verdolaga will return home on Sunday aiming to get back on track, and they will be hoping for a first home victory over Belgrano to achieve this.
However, the hosts can approach the clash with confidence, having won their last two home matches after losing the opening two.
After seeing their five-match unbeaten run across all competitions ended with a 2-0 defeat to Lanus, Belgrano quickly bounced back with a 1-0 victory over Godoy Cruz.
This win lifted El Pirata to eighth in the Argentine Primera Division table, with 14 points from eight matches, and they are now six points adrift of the final Copa Sudamericana place.
Juan Cruz Real's side will be looking to build on their recent win and embark on another positive run, but their away form is a cause for concern.
In three away matches, Belgrano have suffered two defeats and drawn once, scoring three times while conceding seven goals - nevertheless, a win and two draws in their three previous visits to Sarmiento will give them some confidence ahead of this encounter.
Team News
Sarmiento will remain without central midfielder Federico Paradela, who is out with a cruciate ligament injury that he picked up in January.
Twenty-four-year-old goalkeeper Jeronimo Pourtau is also sidelined with an injury he has picked up since early July.
Belgrano will remain without the services of 30-year-old forward Lucas Passerini and 26-year-old right winger Ulises Sanchez, who are both sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury.
Rafael Delgado is out with a torn muscle and Alex Ibacache is unavailable for selection due to illness.
Sarmiento possible starting lineup:
Acosta; Lopez, Parades, Insaurralde, Arismendi; Mendez, Garcia; Gho, Burgoa, Gudino; Naya
Belgrano possible starting lineup:
Chicco; Meriano, Troilo, Moreno; Barinaga, Rolon, Longo, Metilli, Velazquez; Chavarria, Fernandez
We say: Sarmiento 1-1 Belgrano
Belgrano are unbeaten in their visits to Sarmiento, and they have enjoyed a better campaign than the hosts so far. However, their away form has been underpar, which is why we think that the home side can get something from this game.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
