Rosario Central are producing a very irregular campaign in the Liga Profesional. In matchday 5, the team couldn’t hold onto their lead and had to settle for a 1-1 away stalemate at Godoy Cruz. El Canalla made it six points in this competition and remain far below the continental spots in the aggregate table, having claimed a single victory across their last nine league matches (along with four stalemates and four defeats). In fact, Central are without a win in their last four at home, drawing three and losing one. On Monday 8, Miguel Russo’s men lost 1-0 to Barracas Central in the Copa Argentina second round and last Tuesday they won 1-0 at home over Brazil’s SC Internacional in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana playoff.

Sarmiento secured three massive points before the Copa America break, when beating Estudiantes 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Gabriel Gudino and Manuel Garcia. That result represented El Verde’s second consecutive success in the Liga Profesional to make it seven points in five rounds, which allows them to open a nine-gap over bottom-placed Tigre in the aggregate table (fighting to avoid relegation). Israel Damonte’s men also won 1-0 at San Lorenzo in their last away game to break a three-game winless streak of one draw and two losses as the visiting side. The club signed Bryan Cabezas (free agent), Gaston Sauro (America Cali, Colombia) and Ezequiel Naya (Estudiantes) while Emanuel Hernandez left to join CD Cobresal in Chile. Sarmiento registered one draw and two losses in friendlies. Goalkeeper Lucas Acosta will be able to play after overcoming a muscle problem.

Rosario Central had a great midweek win in the Copa Sudamericana playoffs but now they have to play the return leg at Brazil next Tuesday and because of this they will use a reserves lineup here, what should give Sarmiento at least the chance to avoid a defeat and take some very needed points.

BET: Sarmiento +0.5 @ 1.85