San Lorenzo vs Independiente
San Lorenzo were displaced from the top of the league table in week eight, when they succumbed to a 1-0 away loss at Newell’s Old Boys showing a poor version. That result means El Ciclon remain on 16 points and are now second-placed, two points behind table toppers River Plate. The defeat also put an end to their five-match unbeaten streak of four victories and one draw in league action. At home, San Lorenzo seem unbeatable at the moment: they are on seven domestic wins in a row without even conceding. Andres Vombergar returns after missing the last game due to an international duty.
Independiente see their crisis getting deeper game after game. In round eight, they had to settle for a 2-2 home stalemate against bottom-placed Colon after conceding the equaliser in the 101st minute of the game. El Rojo made it seven league matches without a win, drawing five and losing two in that time. The terrible streak put an end to coach Leandro Stillitano’s spell at the club as the side remain on eight points, only three above the worst spot in the Liga Profesional rankings. Independiente are on five away matches without defeat, but four of those ended in draws along with a single victory. Last Sunday, Independiente beat third-tier club Ciudad Bolivar 3-0 under interim boss Pedro Monzon, who will remain in charge on Saturday.
I’m going to trust San Lorenzo here to recover from last week’s defeat and win the derby at home against this very poor and irregular Independiente that still needs to find a new coach.