San Lorenzo vs Independiente
San Lorenzo had a terrible semester and accumulated only 15 points in 14 matches. Their main goal from now on is to improve their points average to avoid relegation threats next year. However, in that context, the team lost only one of their five league games under interim boss Fernando Beron, having won two and drawn two. On a sorry note, El Ciclon are winless at home in 2022, registering four draws and three losses. Coach Ruben Insua arrived in May to start his second spell at the club.
Independiente are going through difficult times. Despite beating Huracan 3-0 at home in their last Copa Liga Profesional game (which stopped a five-game winless streak of three draws and two losses in league action), the team made it only 16 points. The side were also knocked out of the Copa Sudamericana, beating Deportivo La Guaira (Venezuela) 4-0 and losing to Ceara SC (Brazil) 2-0 during the league break, both at home. El Rojo managed a single point from the last nine available on the road in domestic action. First-choice goalkeeper Sebastian Sosa is involved in international duty with Uruguay’s national team. Domingo Blanco and Andres Roa are ruled out due to their contractual conflict and will leave the club at the end of the month.
A derby to start the season, and while San Lorenzo had been terrible, the new coach Ruben Insua (a club idol) should give them a morale boost. Independiente will miss important players and their coach could leave soon after the unexpected Copa Sudamericana elimination.