Independiente Rivadavia vs Velez
Independiente Rivadavia are still finding trouble to adapt to life in the top flight. Last weekend, the team had to settle for a disappointing 1-1 away draw at Talleres’ alternative XI and were even close to losing the game. La Lepra are now holding a ten-match winless streak in Copa Liga Profesional action, drawing two and losing eight. As a result, they accumulated eight points in 13 rounds, which places them bottom in the point-average table so far, four points behind Deportivo Riestra. To make matters worse, Independiente are on four consecutive defeats at Estadio Bautista Gargantini. Victorio Ramis and Matias Reali succumbed to a muscle injury and will miss this game.
Velez Sarsfield wasted a big chance on their fight to advance to the Copa Liga Profesional playoffs last time out. Including a controversial disallowed goal in the second half, El Fortin had to settle for a scoreless home draw against Argentinos Juniors and couldn’t return to the playoff zone in group A, accumulating 22 points in 13 matches and trailing fourth-placed Talleres by one: they need to win here and wait for other results. However, Gustavo Quinteros’ men lost only one of their last ten league matches, winning six and drawing three in that spell. Velez lost 1-0 at Talleres in their last away game after three matches unbeaten on the road (two victories and one draw). Captain Valentin Gomez is ready to return after overcoming a shoulder injury.
Velez must win and hope for other results to advance to the playoffs and they should get it against one of the worst teams in the tournament that couldn’t win in the last 10 and won’t have their best attacking player, Matias Reali.