Racing vs Platense
Racing Club couldn’t handle coach Gustavo Costas’ decision to field an alternative XI and ended up suffering a devastating 2-0 away defeat to Talleres last time out. Following that result, La Academia claimed a single victory across their last four league games (one draw and two defeats), which leaves them on 24 points, trailing leaders Velez Sarsfield by nine. However, that’s still enough to stay into the Copa Libertadores’ zone in the aggregate table. At home, Racing lost only one of their last nine in domestic action, winning six and drawing two. On Thursday 26, they won 4-1 at home over Brazil’s Athletico Paranaense in the return leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals, advancing to the semi-finals via a 4-2 aggregate win. Striker Roger Martinez is affected by an ankle problem and will miss out.
Platense have virtually secured their spot in the top flight for next season last time out, when they managed a massive 1-0 home victory over Rosario Central thanks to a strike from Guido Mainero in the first half. Having lost only one of their last five league matches (two wins and two draws), El Calamar made it 19 points in the Liga Profesional and, even though it’s not enough to fight for a continental ticket, the team opened a healthy 15-point gap over the relegation zone in the aggregate table, which was their biggest threat before the season started.
Racing comes from a confident midweek win to advance to the semifinals of Copa Sudamericana and should be able to beat this irregular Platense that will have missings in defense.