Velez Sarsfield ended in the fifth spot in the 2019/20 aggregate table and failed to qualify for the Copa Libertadores 2021 following an irregular run of two losses and one win, ending with a 1-0 away defeat at Independiente with Guillermo Morigi as interim boss. El Fortin also lost their last home domestic match to Godoy Cruz 1-0 after three wins and three draws at Jose Amalfitani Stadium in the league. The club hired Mauricio Pellegrino to replace Gabriel Heinze and signed Juan Martin Lucero (from Defensa y Justicia), Federico Mancuello (Toluca, Mexico) and Cristian Tarragona (Patronato). Lucas Robertson (sold to Almeria, Spain), Braian Cufre (Mallorca, Spain) and Maximiliano Romero (to PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands) are relevant losses in a total of seven. On Wednesday 28, Velez drew 0-0 at home against Uruguay’s Penarol in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana’s round-of-32. All regulars are available for Saturday. Â
Huracan earned only 22 points in 24 games in 2019/20, ending with a 3-0 home loss to Talleres after two wins in a row. El Globo won 3-0 at Banfield in their last away game after seven winless league matches on the road (two draws and five defeats). The club lost 14 players this winter, including Rodrigo Gomez (to Asteras Tripolis, Greece), Fernando Pellegrino (B Nacional squad Mitre), Lucas Bareiro (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel) and Martin Ojeda (Godoy Cruz). On the other hand, coach Israel Damonte welcomes six new faces. Facundo Cambeses (from Banfield), Adrian Arregui (Independiente Medellin, Colombia), Raul Lozano (second-tier side Quilmes) and Franco Cristaldo (CA Central Cordoba) are expected to be usual starters. Huracan lost 3-0 at Estudiantes three weeks ago in their last friendly game, having won the previous three. Â
These are two teams with good attacking potential, specially Huracan who has been solid and ambitious in the offseason friendlies, so I can imagine that there will be at least a couple of goals.