Independiente vs Atletico Tucuman
Independiente played one of their worst games in 2024 last time out and succumbed to a deserved 1-0 loss away at newcomers Deportivo Riestra. Following that result, El Rojo made it three Copa Liga Profesional matches without a win (two stalemates and one defeat), a streak that displaced them from the playoff spots in group A: Carlos Tevez’s men remain on 18 points, now trailing fourth-placed Talleres by one. Independiente have been irregular at home this term, winning two, drawing one and losing two so far. On Friday 22, they beat third-tier side Deportivo Laferrere 3-0 in the Copa Argentina first round. Thinking of Sunday, Matias Gimenez won’t feature due to a serious knee problem. Ivan Marcone returns from his ban while Joaquin Laso is suspended after reaching the yellow-card limit.
Atletico Tucuman are going through a difficult moment. In their last league game, the team wasted a 2-0 lead and ended up drawing 2-2 at home against newly-promoted side Independiente Rivadavia, a result that keeps them as the only team who are yet to win in the Copa Liga Profesional. El Decano are on six points this term, just above Tigre (five) in the aggregate table, and they also hold a 12-game winless run of six stalemates and six defeats in league action. Furthermore, Atletico managed a single point from 15 on offer on away turf in 2024. On a positive note, Facundo Sava’s men beat second-tier club Defensores de Belgrano 4-0 on Wednesday 20 in the Copa Argentina first round.
The math is simple for Independiente: they are 3 points behind the playoffs places with only 3 games left and they also have a terrible goal difference compared to 4th placed River, so if they can’t beat the worst team of the league who are still winless after 11 rounds, they will probably say goodbye to their dreams of advancing to the next stage. They played a poor game at Riestra last week, but I’m willing to trust them to get the win they need here.