Belgrano – Instituto

Belgrano are still struggling to improve in the league. Last Wednesday, the team couldn’t hold onto their lead and had to settle for a 1-1 away stalemate at Banfield in a boring match. With no relevant aims for the remainder of the season, El Pirata are holding a five-match winless streak of three draws and two losses in the Liga Profesional, making it 27 points in 21 rounds (far away from the continental places via the aggregate table). In fact, Belgrano lost their last two home matches (to Platense and Defensa y Justicia). Nicolas Fernandez continues to recover from a toe injury. Goalkeeper Juan Espinola is now involved in an international duty with Paraguay’s national squad and Ignacio Chicco will replace him. The same can be said about Peruvian Bryan Reyna (who has been taking Nicolas Fernandez’s place due to his toe injury).

Instituto are struggling to overcome their slump. Last time out, they showed a decent version but ended up losing 3-2 to River Plate at home after conceding the winner in the 82nd minute. Therefore, La Gloria made it four league games without a win (drawing one and losing three), which keeps them on 29 points in the Liga Profesional and prevents them from approaching the Copa Sudamericana zone in the aggregate table. On away turf, Instituto secured a single point from the last 12 on offer. Coach Diego Dabove has a full squad to choose from on Monday.

This is one of the Cordoba derbies and one neither wants to lose for sure. The hosts will have some important missings in attack like Nicolas Fernandez and Bryan Reyna, so I expect a tight game between two teams that have been struggling lately.

BET: UNDER 2 @ 1.89