Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Argentine Primera Division clash between Boca Juniors and Barracas Central, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Boca Juniors will be aiming for a sixth consecutive home victory across all competitions when they host Barracas Central at La Bombonera in the Argentine Primera Division on Sunday.
The two sides have met four times in the past, with El Taladro winning every encounter, scoring ten goals and conceding just twice.
Match preview
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Boca Juniors extended their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions following a 3-0 triumph over Banfield in the Argentine Primera Division at La Bombonera on Wednesday.
Former Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, before Miguel Merentiel and Jabes Saralegui added further goals in the second half to secure a comfortable win for Diego Martinez‘s side.
This victory means the Xeneize have now won four and drawn three of their last seven matches, including a win and a draw in both legs against Independiente Del Valle in the Copa Sudamericana, and a win over Almirante Brown in the Copa Argentina.
The 35-time champions currently sit 11th in the table with 12 points, level with Estudiantes, Lanus and Argentinos Juniors who occupy positions below them due to an inferior goal difference.
Martinez will be hoping his team can extend both their unbeaten streak and their winning record against Sunday’s opponents in an effort to close the six-point gap to league leaders Huracan.
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Barracas Central have endured a poor start to the second phase of the current Primera Division season, winning just one of their eight matches so far.
After picking up four points from their opening two games, Alejandro Orfila‘s side have managed just one point from the subsequent six matches in the Argentine Primera Division, suffering five defeats and drawing one.
Los Camioneros have five points and are 26th in the table, while they sit three points and five places outside the Sudamericana qualification spots in the overall standings.
Barracas’ attacking woes have been evident in the second phase, with only three goals scored – the lowest tally in the division – a problem Orfila will be keen to address as soon as possible.
However, there is a positive trend for the visitors, as they have scored most of their goals and conceded fewer on the road compared to their home matches, while their sole victory of the campaign has also come away from home.
Boca Juniors Argentine Primera Division form:
Boca Juniors form (all competitions):
Barracas Central Argentine Primera Division form:
Team News
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Boca Juniors will be without several players due to international duty, as Cristian Medina, Leandro Brey, Kevin Zenon and Ezequiel Fernandez are all away with the Argentina Men’s Olympics Team in France.
On the injury front, the Xeneize will remain without right-back Lucas Blondel, who has been out since March with a cruciate ligament tear.
Midfielder Pol Fernandez will also miss this game through suspension after passing the yellow card threshold.
Barracas will remain without Lucas Lopez and Maximiliano Puig, who are out with an ACL and tendon injury, respectively.
Centre-back Agustin Irazoque is also sidelined with injury alongside midfielders Facundo Mater and Lucas Brochero.
Boca Juniors possible starting lineup:
Romero; Advincula, Medel, Rojo, Blanco; Belmonte, Benitez, Martegani, Ceballos; Cavani, Merentiel
Barracas Central possible starting lineup:
Moyano; Velurtas, Goni, Demartini, Tolosa; Herrera, Rosane; Iacobellis, Duarte, Zalazar; Candia
We say: Boca Juniors 2-0 Barracas Central
Boca Juniors have been virtually impregnable on home turf this season and will carry the momentum from their last match into this one.
While the hosts boast a formidable attacking force, Barracas have been struggling to score goals and are far from being a strong side this campaign.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.