Lanus vs Boca
Lanus’ coach Ricardo Zielinski fielded a completely alternative XI last Sunday and ended up losing 1-0 away at Atletico Tucuman in a boring game. That result means El Granate are now without a win in the last ten in the Liga Profesional, with five stalemates and five defeats in that time. El Granate remain on 20 points after 19 rounds, which keeps them out of the Copa Sudamericana zone in the aggregate table. Lanus haven’t claimed any victories in their last five league games at Estadio Nestor Diaz Perez, drawing four and losing one. On Wednesday 30, Lanus lost 1-0 at home to Brazil’s Cruzeiro EC in the return leg of the Copa Sudamericana semi-finals, being knocked out of the competition via a 2-1 defeat on aggregate. Ramiro Carrera succumbed to a muscle injury and will miss out. Eduardo Salvio, Nery Dominguez and Abel Luciatti remain out injured.
Boca Juniors are yet to find their best version under coach Fernando Gago. Last Sunday, El Xeneize had to settle for a disappointing 1-1 home stalemate against newcomers Deportivo Riestra following a terrible performance. El Xeneize managed a single victory across their last six league games, drawing one and losing four. That streak leaves them on 25 points in the Liga Profesional and four points behind the last Copa Libertadores’ spot in the aggregate table. Boca remain without a win in their last eight domestic matches as the visiting side, with four stalemates and four defeats.
Lanus has to be tired and not in the best mood after the midweek elimination of the Copa Sudamericana semifinals, plus they have important players like Salvio, Carrera, and Dominguez out due to injuries. Boca is still a mess but they are such a big club, that I can’t imagine them being always like, especially after the coach change so I’ll trust them here to finally break the bad run and take a much needed win.