Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Argentine Primera Division clash between Racing Club and Deportivo Riestra, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Racing Club are undoubted favourites to dispatch Deportivo Riestra in Saturday’s Argentine Primera Division clash at Estadio Presidente Peron.
The round four meeting sees the in-form early-season highflyers host a side beaten in two of three league outings at the start of the season.
Match preview
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Racing head into the fourth round of the Argentine top division keen to continue their undefeated start to the new season.
Gustavo Costas‘ troops are one of six sides to remain unbeaten after the opening rounds of the 2024 campaign, and they seek to make that four on Saturday.
La Academia played out a rip-roaring 4-4 draw in the season opener on May 12, but have since claimed four straight wins in all competitions without conceding.
Their league wins over Argentinos Juniors (3-0) and Tigre (4-0) have been proven to be more than just good fortune as a pair of 3-0 wins over Coquimbo Unido and Sportivo Luqueno have followed in the Copa Sudamericana.
It remains to be seen if Racing make that five wins on the spin, but supporters in Avellaneda will back their team to extend its winning run after the false start.
Standing in La Academia’s way are a Deportivo Riestra side that head into round four in dispiriting form, having lost two league games since their opening day 1-0 triumph over San Lorenzo.
Losing at Estudiantes (2-0) and on their turf to Rosario Central (2-0) does not bode well for the visitors, who were eliminated in the Copa Argentina at home to Newell’s Old Boys (1-0) in mid-May, making it three games in all competitions without scoring.
Cristian Fabbiani hopes his men put the results behind them when they travel to the in-form hosts, even if many may dread a fourth loss on the trot.
Part of that lack of confidence on Saturday is the Malevos’ wretched road form in the competition all year, underlined by one win in eight away matches.
That sole triumph was a comeback 2-1 win at Independiente Rivadavia, but a repeat of that outcome this weekend is not anticipated.
Racing Club Argentine Primera Division form:
Racing Club form (all competitions):
Deportivo Riestra Argentine Primera Division form:
Team News
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German Conti is expected to miss Saturday’s game because of a muscle injury.
Agustin Garcia Basso could replace Marco Di Cesare in the back three after Copa Sudamericana action in midweek.
Roger Martinez has already found the back of the net three times for the joint leaders, and the forward should lead the attack this weekend.
It remains to be seen if Nicolas Dematei is fit to play this weekend, with the left-back struggling with a knock. Jonathan Goitia is a likely replacement for Fabbiani’s men.
Jonathan Herrera is the only player to score for Blanquinegro this term, and the forward hopes to add to that tally for the goal-shy underdogs.
Racing Club possible starting lineup:
Arias; Basso, Sosa, Colombo; Martirena, Almendra, Nardoni, Rojas; Urzi, Martinez, Salas
Deportivo Riestra possible starting lineup:
Arce; Minervino, Barrionuevo, Sansotre, Goitia; Ramirez, Celiz, Monje, Pereira; Herrera, Fernandez
We say: Racing Club 2-0 Deportivo Riestra
Barring any unexpected turn, Racing are favourites to secure another positive result to continue their unbeaten start to the new campaign and extend their winning run to three in the league and five in all competitions against an opponent without a win since May 12.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.