Independiente vs Deportivo Riestra
Independiente lost another chance of climbing into one of the continental berths last Tuesday, when they couldn’t hold onto a lead and ended up drawing 1-1 at Tigre. El Rojo are without defeat in their last eight league games, but they just won two of those (along with six stalemates), which means they accumulate 19 points, now trailing the last Copa Sudamericana spot in the aggregate table by one. At home, Independiente haven’t lost any of the last seven, winning two and drawing five.
Deportivo Riestra managed an important point last time out, when they drew 3-3 against Newell’s Old Boys at home (playing with ten men since the first half) thanks to Nicolas Benegas’ strike in the 96th minute. El Malevo made it five league matches unbeaten (winning two and drawing three) to accumulate 24 points in the Liga Profesional, which allows them to stay ten points above Independiente Rivadavia in the fight to avoid relegation via the point-average table. On a sorry note, Riestra have been winless in their last nine on away turf, with three stalemates and six losses in that time.
It’s like Riestra are two different teams: one very strong when they play at home where they have a long undefeated streak, and another one away where they’ve been struggling a lot. Independiente has improved lately and even though they are not fully trustable, they are a big club and at home they should win these kinds of games.