Gimnasia – River Plate
Gimnasia LP showed great improvements last weekend and secured a massive 1-0 away success at Racing Club thanks to a strike from Benjamin Dominguez in the first half. That victory allowed them to stop a four-game losing streak in this competition. El Lobo made it 13 points in the Liga Profesional and took an important breather in the aggregate table, opening a 15-point gap over the relegation spot. On a sorry note, Gimnasia lost their last two at home (to San Lorenzo and Rosario Central without even scoring). Left back Valentin Rodriguez succumbed to a muscle problem and will miss out. First-choice goalkeeper Nelson Insfran returns from suspension on Saturday.
River Plate new coach Marcelo Gallardo experienced a rough debut in his second spell at the club: a hard-fought 1-1 home stalemate against league leaders Huracan means El Millonario claimed a single victory across their last six Liga Profesional matches, drawing three and losing two. The side are now accumulating 15 points in this competition, five behind the top of the table, which is however enough to stay into the Copa Libertadores zone in the aggregate table. In fact, River took a single point from the last 12 on offer as the visiting side in domestic action. On Wednesday 14, River won at Talleres 1-0 in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16. Strikers Facundo Colidio and Miguel Borja remain sidelined. Boss Marcelo Gallardo will rest his starters on Saturday.
After the very tight and lucky win in Copa Libertadores, River will rest their starters here before the 2nd leg. Without Borja their attack is much weaker, so I expect Gimnasia, who are coming from a good win at Racing, to be able to at least avoid a defeat.