Argentinos Jrs – Sarmiento

Argentinos Juniors are going through an irregular spell in the league. Last Saturday, the team showed a poor performance and ended up succumbing to an unexpected 1-0 away defeat to Godoy Cruz. That result means El Bicho lost three of their last four Liga Profesional matches (along with a single victory), which keeps them on 12 points in this competition and prevents them from approaching the Copa Libertadores’ places in the aggregate table. Argentinos lost only one of their last 13 home matches in domestic action, winning ten and drawing two in that spell. Centre back Jonathan Galvan is suspended for Thursday after seeing a red card at Godoy Cruz. Defensive midfielder Ariel Gamarra returns after missing that game due to a fever and Luciano Gondou is available after playing in the Olympics.

Sarmiento left good impressions last Sunday but they were ineffective up front and ended up settling for a scoreless home stalemate against Belgrano in a hard-fought game. El Verde claimed a single victory across their last four league games (along with one draw and two defeats) to accumulate 11 points in the Liga Profesional, which however allows them to stay eight points above the relegation spot in the aggregate table. Sarmiento also lost their last two away matches (to Rosario Central and River Plate).

Argentinos Jrs finally will have their best striker and top scorer, Luciano Gondou, back after he played with Argentina’s NT in the Olympics and that should be enough to make them a better attacking team, finished with this irregular run they are going through and win at home.

BET: Argentinos Jrs -0.75 @ 1.97