Argentinos Jrs vs River
Argentinos Juniors showed an enormous deflation in their performance last Monday, when they ended up losing 3-0 to Racing Club and could have suffered a heavier blow. El Bicho remain on three points in the Liga Profesional and saw their nine-match unbeaten streak in league action (four wins and five stalemates in regular time) coming to an end. In addition, Pablo Guede’s men have been displaced from the Copa Sudamericana spots in the aggregate table. Argentinos have been without defeat in the last nine league games at Estadio Diego Armando Maradona, winning seven and drawing two.
River Plate are clearly the best team in the league at the moment. Last Saturday, the team managed an easy 3-0 home success over Belgrano following a convincing performance to make it six points in two rounds of Liga Profesional action, becoming table toppers alongside Talleres and Estudiantes. In fact, Martin Demichelis’ men are leaders in the aggregate table after winning four of their last five league games (losing only once in that time). On away turf, River suffered a single defeat across their last seven in domestic action (three victories and three stalemates). On Tuesday 21, River lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw against second-tier club Temperley in the Copa Argentina second round.
Even if they’ve been far from reliable lately, I’m going to trust Argentinos Jrs at their stadium where they’ve been strong as usual. River has their problems playing away, they come from a tough elimination in Copa Argentina against a 2nd tier club, so the hosts should be able to hold to at least a draw.