San Lorenzo – Gimnasia
San Lorenzo delivered a much-improved performance in their Torneo Clausura debut, earning a valuable 2-1 away win over Talleres. The result gave El Ciclón their first three points of the campaign and reinforced their position in the Copa Sudamericana qualifying zone via the aggregate table. The team lost only one of their last five league matches (two wins and two draws in regular time), but also dropped two of their last three home games, winning just once during that stretch. All regular starters are available for manager Damián Ayude ahead of Saturday’s match.
Gimnasia LP’s new semester picked up right where the last one left off—with more frustration and poor results. In Alejandro Orfila’s debut as head coach, El Lobo delivered a disappointing performance and lost 1-0 at home to Instituto, marking their sixth defeat in the last ten league matches (with just one win and three draws in that span). As a result, they remain only three points above the relegation zone in the aggregate standings. Their struggles away from home are also a major concern: Gimnasia have lost their last four league matches as visitors.
San Lorenzo looked good in a big win in the 1st round and this very poor Gimnasia should be a team they have to beat at home if they want to repeat last season’s performance when they reached the semifinals.