Arsenal vs Independiente
Sarandi Arsenal took another step towards the second division last Saturday, when they couldn’t stop Newell’s Old Boys’ offensive power and ended up losing 2-0 away from home under interim boss Dario Espinola. It was their third league defeat in a row and the seventh across the last eight rounds in this competition (alongside a single victory over Union Santa Fe 2-1 at home). Therefore, El Viaducto remain on 11 points after 16 matches, which keeps them bottom in the point average table (trailing Sarmiento, CA Central Cordoba, Banfield, Atletico Tucuman and Union Santa Fe, who are level in the last safe place, by 20 points). At home, Arsenal collected seven points in as many matches this term, winning two, drawing one and losing four.
Independiente are finally starting to improve under recently-appointed boss Ricardo Zielinski. Last Saturday, a strike from Martin Cauteruccio in the 95th minute gave them a highly celebrated 2-1 home success over Tigre and El Rojo made it three league games unbeaten, winning two and drawing one in that spell. Thanks to that streak, they accumulated 17 points, escaping from relegation threats via a eight-point gap over bottom-placed Union Santa Fe.
Independiente are finally finding some form after a terrible start, they will miss central defender Barreto and defensive midfielder Marcone for this game so this could make them more vulnerable in defense. Arsenal is in a must win situation due to their massive relegation issues, so a couple of goals should happen here.