Banfield vs Rosario Central
Banfield recently-appointed coach Julio Falcioni has a lot of work to do as his team are now experiencing a deep crisis. Last time out, El Taladro succumbed to a 1-0 away defeat at Estudiantes, making it five league matches without a win (two stalemates and three losses in that time). As a result, they remain on 15 points in 17 rounds in the Liga Profesional, three above bottom-placed Union Santa Fe and four over the first relegation place in the point-average table, occupied by Platense. Furthermore, Banfield lost three of their last five matches at Estadio Florencio Sola, along with one win and one draw. Alejandro Cabrera and Luis Mago have been sent off at Estudiantes and are suspended for Monday.
Rosario Central showed a great display of effort to secure a massive 2-1 home win over Defensa y Justicia, one of the best teams in the league, thanks to goals from Carlos Quintana and Ignacio Malcorra. El Canalla are now on three matches without defeat in this competition, winning two and drawing one to accumulate 30 points, which places them in fifth spot of the Liga Profesional table following a remarkable campaign. On a sorry note, Miguel Russo’s men are winless in their last four on the road, drawing three and losing one. On Wednesday 24, Central won 4-1 over third-tier side Central Norte in the Copa Argentina first round.
I’ll definitely trust Rosario Central again here who are one of the best teams so far in this competition, against this very poor Banfield that can’t catch a break.