Barracas Central – Central Cordoba

Barracas Central produced a remarkable campaign in their return to the First Division after over 85 years and need to consolidate their top-flight status in the second semester. Having lost only one of their last four league matches, with two wins and one draw), the team made it 19 points in 14 matches, which placed them only one point behind the last qualifying spot in group B and far away the relegation spots. As hosts, they clinched ten points from 21 on offer. On May 12, Barracas beat third-tier side Acassuso 4-1 in the Copa Argentina first round, and they also won 1-0 at third-tier outfit Penarol San Juan in a friendly match. With no reinforcements nor relevant departures, coach Alfredo Berti has a full squad to pick from on Friday.

CA Central Cordoba didn’t go well in the Copa Liga Profesional: they ended up in the penultimate spot of the group B table with 15 points and taking only one point from the last nine on offer, which places them now just four points above the relegation zone. On a positive note, nine of those points were secured on the road as a product of two wins, three stalemates and two defeats. El Ferroviario played a friendly game against Atletico Tucuman this winter, drawing 1-1 at home. Coach Sergio Rondina has to deal with several absences on Friday as Matias Laba, Claudio Riano and Franco Sbuttoni (among others) are out injured while Juan Kaprof is suspended.