Defensa y Justicia vs Sarmiento
Defensa y Justicia had a rough debut in the Copa Liga Profesional last Sunday, with coach Julio Vaccari resting most of his regulars ahead of their continental commitments. Nevertheless, the 0-0 away draw at Platense means El Halcon lost only one of their last seven matches in league action, winning three and drawing three. That streak allows them to stay occupying one of the Copa Sudamericana places in the aggregate table (just two points behind the top four) despite holding one game in hand. Defensa are unbeaten in their last eight domestic matches at home, having claimed five victories and three stalemates in that time. On Wednesday 30, Defensa won 2-1 at Banfield over Brazil’s Botafogo FR in the return leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals, advancing to the semi-finals via a 3-2 aggregate result.
Meanwhile, Sarmiento did very well to take advantage of Boca Juniors coach Jorge Almiron’s decision to field an alternative XI last Sunday and beat them 1-0 at home thanks to a goal from Gabriel Diaz in the first half. El Verde made it two victories in as many matches in the Copa Liga Profesional to become group B leaders alongside Newell’s Old Boys and three without defeat in league action (along with one draw) to open an eight-point gap over the relegation spot in the aggregate rankings, occupied by Huracan. On a sorry note, Sarmiento managed a single point from the last 15 available on away turf without even scoring in that spell.
Sarmiento are good at home but just terrible away, and Defensa y Justicia with their high morale after the huge win in Copa Sudamericana, should be able to beat them.