Instituto vs Defensa y Justicia
Instituto showed their worst version last Saturday, when they ended up losing 1-0 away at Velez Sarsfield and could have suffered a heavier rout. Having claimed a single victory across their last five league matches (along with two draws and two losses), La Gloria remain on 18 points in the Liga Profesional, which keeps them out of the Copa Sudamericana zone in the aggregate table (their main fight for the remaining rounds). On a positive note, Instituto have been unbeaten in their last five at their own stadium, winning three and drawing two. Coach Diego Dabove is still missing Roberto Bochi as the defensive midfielder continues to recover from a knee problem.
Defensa y Justicia took a little breather in the context of a problematic season last Monday, when beating Banfield 1-0 at home with Matias Sosa netting the winner in the first half. El Halcon secured their first Liga Profesional victory, making it eight points in 11 rounds, and stopped a 11-game winless streak of six draws and five losses in league action to approach the last Copa Sudamericana berth in the aggregate table (now five points behind Argentinos Juniors). Defensa haven’t won any of their last six domestic games on the road, drawing two and losing four.
Even though Instituto have been struggling lately, I have to trust them at home against this very poor Defensa that has been awful when playing away, not winning a game in more than 4 months and with just one win overall of the last 16.