Belgrano – Racing

Belgrano seem to have found their way to happiness under recently-appointed boss Juan Cruz Real. Last time out, the man in charge rested most of his regulars but the team were still able to claim a solid 2-1 away success at Union Santa Fe, with Franco Jara netting a brace. El Pirata made it two victories out of two league games since the new coach’s arrival to accumulate 14 points in the Copa Liga Profesional. On a sorry note, Belgrano are on three home matches without a win in this competition, having drawn two and lost one. On Thursday 4, Belgrano drew 1-1 away at Delfin SC from Ecuador in a Copa Sudamericana group game.

Racing Club are still alive on their fight for a ticket to the Copa Liga Profesional playoffs as a consequence of their 2-0 home success over Lanus, with Adrian Martinez and Santiago Solari scoring. La Academia made it three matches unbeaten in this competition (two victories and one stalemate) to accumulate 21 points, now trailing fourth-placed Defensa y Justicia by two: they need to win and wait for other results. Racing lost only one of their last 13 away matches in domestic action, winning five and drawing seven in that spell. On Wednesday 10, Racing won 3-0 at home over Brazil’s Red Bull Bragantino in a Copa Sudamericana group game.

Even though they won’t have again playmaker Juanfer Quintero due to personal reasons, I’ll trust Racing to get the win they need here to have a chance of advancing to the playoffs (even if they win they still need to wait for other results). Belgrano play for nothing, they’ve lost their top scorer Lucas Passerini to a long term injury lately and also won’t have Sanchez and Lucco in midfield, and Rebola and Moreno in defense due to different injuries.

BET: Racing -0.5 @ 1.89