Tigre vs Instituto
Tigre returned to winning ways last Monday, when they secured a big 1-0 away success at Banfield thanks to a penalty netted by Nicolas Contin in the 88th minute. El Matador put an end to their four-match winless streak of two stalemates and two losses in league action to accumulate 29 points in the Liga Profesional, which also allows them to open a four-point gap over the bottom spot in the aggregate table. Tigre lost 4-0 to Defensa y Justicia in their last home match after five unbeaten at Estadio Jose Dellagiovanna (winning two and drawing three in that spell).
Instituto showed a very good reaction after coach Diego Dabove’s resignation. Last Monday, they secured an important 1-0 home victory over Argentinos Juniors under interim boss Bruno Martelotto, with Jeremias Lazaro scoring the winner in the first half. Thanks to that result, La Gloria broke a five-game winless streak of one stalemate and four defeats to accumulate 32 points in the Liga Profesional, which places them just three points behind the last Copa Sudamericana berth in the aggregate table. On a sorry note, Instituto managed a single point from the last 15 on offer on away turf. Centre back Fernando Alarcon succumbed to a muscle injury and will miss out on Saturday, as well as midfielder Jonas Acevedo.
I like how Tigre has improved lately (besides the 0-4 at home vs Defensa a couple of weeks ago). They look more confident, will have playmaker Maroni back in the starting lineup, and will face this Instituto that has been awful away and too irregular in general so I’ll trust the hosts to get a win.