Defensa y Justicia vs Huracan
Defensa y Justicia finished last season in perfect style, having not lost any of their last nine league games (six wins and three draws), which earned them a spot in the 2023 Copa Sudamericana after a poor first semester of the year. At home, El Halcon are on six home matches unbeaten, winning four and drawing two. The club will miss captain Adonis Frias, sold to Mexican side Leon.
Huracan succumbed to a surprising 3-2 away defeat at Patronato in the last league game, which stopped a four-match unbeaten streak of three victories and one draw, but they still clinched a ticket for the Copa Libertadores thanks to Gimnasia LP’s 2-0 loss at Talleres. On a sorry note, El Globo are on seven winless matches on the road, drawing five and losing two. Coach Diego Dabove will miss Franco Cristaldo (sold to Gremio, Brazil) and Benjamin Garre (Krylia Sovetov, Russia).
Huracan lost more important players during the offseason and they were already a poor road team so I like the hosts here to start the season with a win.