Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Argentine Primera Division clash between Belgrano and Argentinos Juniors, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Belgrano welcome Argentinos Juniors to the Julio Cesar Villagra Stadium on Saturday night keen to find some momentum at the start of the Argentine Primera Division season.
The hosts seek consecutive wins in the gameweek four encounter to build on the previous round’s triumph, while Argentinos could go top if they win and results elsewhere go their way.
Match preview
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After a winless start in gameweeks one and two, Belgrano finally got maximum points in round three, with Juan Cruz Real‘s men defeating winless Central Cordoba 2-1 on May 25.
While they began the league with mixed results, El Pirata went undefeated in six Copa Sudamericana matches, pointing to the hosts prioritising progress in that continental competition at the expense of their league form.
Having completed the group phase, ending atop their section with three wins and as many draws, El Celeste are keen to pick up positive results over the next two games before the month-long hiatus.
The fans have reason to back their team for a positive outcome given their ongoing undefeated run on home soil in all competitions.
Since losing 4-0 to Racing Club in mid-April, Belgrano have drawn two and claimed consecutive wins, and they seek to make it three wins on the trot this weekend.
It remains to be seen if Argentinos have enough to prevent El Pirata from winning a third straight match on their turf, with the visitors losing 3-0 at Racing Club on their last road game on May 21.
However, Racing’s impressive start to the season means Pablo Guede‘s men should not be judged too harshly by that road reverse heading into this weekend.
With six points accrued from a possible nine, El Bicho could move to the top of the standings if none of the six sides on seven points win and they defeat Belgrano in Cordoba this weekend.
Nevertheless, eagle-eyed observers will point to the club’s winless run on their travels since claiming back-to-back wins across two competitions in late March and early April, with three losses and one draw following triumphs over Instituto and Nacional Asuncion.
They have fired blanks in losses to Corinthians (4-0) and Racing (3-0) in the Copa Sudamericana and Primera Division respectively, possibly bothering the travelling fans before Saturday.
Belgrano Argentine Primera Division form:
Belgrano form (all competitions):
Argentinos Juniors Argentine Primera Division form:
Argentinos Juniors form (all competitions):
Team News
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Matias Moreno will serve a one-game suspension following his sending-off (two yellows) against Central Cordoba.
Missing through injury for Belgrano are Franco Jara (hamstring) and Nicolas Meriano (muscle), while Lucas Passerini and Ulises Sanchez are sidelined because of severe knee injuries. Alex Ibacche is doubtful because of illness.
Francisco Alvarez, sent off (two yellows) in Argentinos’ loss at Racing, should return to the away side’s squad on Saturday.
Alan Rodriguez could miss the gameweek four fixture because of a knee injury.
Alan Lescano (two goals) has netted 50% of the away side’s goals, and the midfield man hopes to add to his tally this weekend.
Belgrano possible starting lineup:
Losada; Troilo, Rebola, Baldi; Baringa, Rolon, Quignon, Velaquez; Reyna, Chavarria, Marin
Argentinos Juniors possible starting lineup:
Rodriguez; Santamaria, Godoy, Galvan, Vega; Lescano, Gamarra, Oroz, Viveros; Veron, Gondou
We say: Belgrano 1-1 Argentinos Juniors
Saturday’s game could be close to call with Belgrano no longer distracted by continental games for a while, even if the same applies to Argentinos, who have endured a disappointing road form.
The outcome could be contingent on which team adapts quicker following midweek Sudamericana exertions, and that uncertainty means we err on the side of caution by going for a tie in the round four fixture.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.