Defensa y Justicia wasted the chance of climbing into the playoff zone last Tuesday, when they had to settle for a disappointing 1-1 home stalemate against relegation candidates CA Central Cordoba. Even though the team have been unbeaten in their last five league matches (three wins and two draws), they are now on 11 points in the Copa Liga Profesional, trailing fourth-placed Newell’s Old Boys by one in group B. At home, Defensa secured four points from six on offer so far. Goalkeeper Enrique Bologna continues to recover from a knee problem.

Deportivo Riestra finally secured their first top-flight victory in history last Monday, when they secured three massive points by beating Atletico Tucuman 1-0 at home, with Milton Celiz netting the winner in the second half. After stopping a five-game winless streak of one draw and four defeats El Malevo made it four points overall, climbing out of the bottom spot in the aggregate table, but still occupying the relegation berth in the point-average rankings. On away turf, Riestra managed a single point from six on offer without even scoring so far.

Defensa failed to beat the weak Central Cordoba at home last week, and I can’t imagine they will fail again against one of the worst teams in the league. Riestra still couldn’t score when playing away, they come from a win but it was against one of the few teams that have been worse than them, and I don’t see how they will hold Defensa’s attacking power.