On Monday, Argentinos Juniors can end a four-match winless run versus Velez Sarsfield when the two sides face each other at Estadio Jose Amalfitani.
El Fortin are 23rd in the Argentine Primera Division right now with 18 points, following their 2-0 loss at Belgrano last Saturday, while Juniors are 12th after beating Platense 1-0.
Match preview
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Since the start of April, Sarsfield have had a rough go of it domestically, managing just five points in league play and without a victory since a 4-0 triumph over Central Cordoba on March 21.
They did drop two points in their opening fixture of April, letting a 3-1 lead slip away to draw Banfield 3-3, but their slump boils down to their indecision in the attacking third, failing to score in six of their previous eight matches in this competition heading into Monday.
Ricardo Gareca has had a few months to get a feel for this team, and it seems the ex-Peruvian boss wants his side to defend a lot and press the opposition higher up the field, with Velez often seeing fewer than 50% of the ball per game.
He will be encouraged by what he saw out of his group in their previous home fixture when they fought back twice from a goal down to draw the league leaders River Plate, scoring more goals in that encounter than they had managed in their previous six domestic outings combined.
It has been over four years since they have given up a goal to Argentinos in a home fixture, winning their last two matches against them at Estadio Jose Amalfitani, 2-0 each time.
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After a difficult end of May, going goalless in their final three matches in all competitions, June has begun more optimistically for El Bicho.
They followed up a shutout win over Platense with a 2-1 triumph versus Liverpool at the Copa Libertadores group stage as they officially punched their ticket into the knockout stage of that competition.
Gabriel Milito was an exceptional defender during his playing days, and his team have looked a lot sharper along the back end lately, conceding a goal or fewer in five successive matches in all competitions.
Their scoring, however, has dried up a little in recent matches, failing to strike in one of their previous two league contests.
Juniors have managed to keep most of their away matches in the league this year close but have often been narrowly beaten, with nine of their road fixtures decided by a single goal, but Argentinos only won in two of those instances.
Team News
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Santiago Caseres of Velez Sarsfield is dealing with an ankle injury which will likely keep him out another week, while Tomas Cavanagh should return around that same time from a hamstring strain.
El Fortin were firing on all cylinders in their Copa Argentina clash in midweek as Gianluca Prestianni, Miguel Brizuela, Elias Cabrera and a brace by Lucas Janson helped them to an easy 5-1 win over Deportivo Espanol.
The last time that Velez Sarsfield hosted Argentinos in 2021, goals by Lautaro Giannetti and Lucas Pratto helped propel them to a 2-0 victory.
Facundo Ferreyra might be unavailable for Juniors because of a calf injury, while Santiago Montiel will be suspended following his straight red card last Friday.
Leonardo Heredia had the only goal in the victory over Platense as Alexis Martin Arias had to make just two stops as he collected a clean sheet.
On Wednesday, in their Libertadores clash, Heredia found the mark again, though Lucas Villalba served as the hero, putting home the winner deep into stoppage time.
Velez Sarsfield possible starting lineup:
Gomez; Guidara, Godin, Brizuela, Ortega; Florentin, D. Fernandez; Osorio, Prestianni, Bou; Pratto
Argentinos Juniors possible starting lineup:
Arias; Mac Allister, Torren, Villalba; Heredia, Rodriguez, Vera, Moyano, Dominguez; Veron, Nuss
We say: Velez Sarsfield 2-0 Argentinos Juniors
Juniors have been the more consistent of the two, but Velez Sarsfield always seem to play them tough, particularly when in front of their home fans.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
