Rosario Central vs Lanus
Rosario Central won two of their last three league matches (losing one), but they still ended up their Copa Liga Profesional campaign at the bottom of the group B table with 14 points. Therefore, the team should improve to avoid relegation threats next year. During the league break, El Canalla beat third-tier club Sol de Mayo on penalties (1-1 draw) in the Copa Argentina first round and lost to Sarandi Arsenal 2-0 on a neutral ground (friendly game). On a positive note, Central remain unbeaten at home under coach Leandro Somoza (two wins and one draw).
Even though they haven’t lost any of their last five league games (two victories and three draws), Lanus produced a poor campaign last semester (15 points) and should improve to get into the fight for the continental tickets. However, they managed to advance to the Copa Sudamericana round of 16, losing 2-1 to Uruguay’s Montevideo Wanderers and beating Metropolitanos FC from Venezuela 1-0 (both at home) during the league break. On a sorry note, El Granate hold a ten-match winless streak on the road in domestic action, drawing four and losing six in that spell. Midfielder Diego Valeri left the club this winter. Striker Jose Lopez is about to join Brazil’s Palmeiras and will miss out, as will Jose Sand and Alexandro Bernabei due to different problems. Â
Rosario Central will have to get used to play without all time top scorer Marco Ruben who retired, but they’ve been solid at home and they will host a Lanus without some very important attacking players and that has been really poor away from their stadium.