Racing vs Banfield
Anibal Moreno’s strike in the 66th minute allowed Racing Club to avoid the defeat on their visit to Defensa y Justicia last Sunday, when they registered a 1-1 stalemate. However, La Academia continue going through difficult times in the league: winless in their last eight matches (two draws and six defeats), Fernando Gago’s men are now sitting into the 21st place of the league table on 19 points (with one game in hand). Furthermore, Racing are on three losses in a row at their own stadium in this competition (they were beaten by Newell’s Old Boys, Atletico Tucuman and Talleres). Matias Rojas is available after overcoming his ankle problem.
Banfield finally secured their first victory in coach Julio Falcioni’s fifth spell at the club last Monday, when they won 2-0 at home over Rosario Central thanks to a brace netted by Milton Gimenez. El Taladro put an end to their five-match winless streak of two draws and three defeats in the league to accumulate 18 points in as many rounds in the Liga Profesional, leading Union Santa Fe (who are currently losing their top-flight status while occupying the penultimate spot) by three. On a sorry note, Banfield are on four away games without a win, having drawn two and lost two in that spell.
13 of the last 14 Racing games had at least a couple of goals and also in the last 11 they conceded at least one, so I expect another open game as they will have offensive midfielder Matias Rojas back.