Boca vs Sarmiento
Defending champions Boca Juniors can’t find their best version this season. In round 21, a short-handed team succumbed to a devastating 4-0 away defeat at Godoy Cruz, an unexpected result that means El Xeneize are now winless in their last three matches in Liga Profesional action, drawing one and losing two in that time. Therefore, the side remains on 28 points, still out of the continental spots while we are going through the second half of the season. On a positive note, Boca are on four domestic matches unbeaten at Estadio La Bombonera, with three wins and one draw since losing to Estudiantes 1-0 in April. On Thursday 29, Boca won 4-0 at home over Venezuela’s Monagas SC in a Copa Libertadores group match, securing the top spot of the group F table.
Sarmiento continue to consolidate their top-flight status: the team played in perfect style last Sunday and celebrated an easy 4-1 home victory over Atletico Tucuman. El Verde returned to winning ways after four matches without even scoring. Having lost only one of their last eight (winning three and drawing four), the side made it 28 points in the Liga Profesional, opening a ten-point gap over the relegation place in the aggregate table. Sarmiento lost their last away game (2-0 at Independiente), which stopped a three-match unbeaten streak of two wins and one draw on the road. Striker Javier Toledo is available after serving his one-match suspension.
Despite their midweek win, Boca is still far from reliable and I would trust Sarmiento here but they won’t have their starter goalkeeper who left the club, so I’ll go with the over as I won’t be surprised if both teams score goals.