Argentinos Jrs vs Barracas Central
Argentinos Juniors are close to securing their spot in the Copa Liga Profesional playoffs after their scoreless away draw at Velez Sarsfield in round 13. Following a five-match unbeaten streak of three victories and two stalemates in this competition, El Bicho remain as group B leaders on 25 points (alongside Barracas Central) and will advance to the next round in the event of avoiding the defeat in this final round. Argentinos seem unbeatable at Estadio Diego Armando Maradona lately: they are without defeat in the last seven, winning six and drawing one in that spell. On Tuesday 9, they lost 3-0 at home to Uruguay’s Racing in a Copa Sudamericana group game.
Barracas Central are almost through the group stage following a remarkable 3-2 home success over Instituto (at Huracan) in an entertaining game last Sunday. As a result of three consecutive victories in the Copa Liga Profesional, El Guapo are producing their best campaign in history, accumulating 25 points to become group A leaders (alongside Argentinos Juniors), and will advance to the playoffs in the event of avoiding the defeat here. Barracas succumbed to a single loss across their last eight away games in domestic action, winning three and drawing four. On Wednesday 10, the side won on penalties after a scoreless draw against second-tier club San Miguel in the Copa Argentina first round.
Both will advance to the playoffs with a draw, so I would expect both of them to play a safe game without taking any risks. For Argentinos even a defeat will be enough due to their goals difference (they have 11 goals more than Velez) so they might even rotate and rest some regulars.