After saying goodbye to the Copa Sudamericana in midweek, Union Santa Fe couldn’t secure the point they needed to advance to the Fase Campeonato: they lost 5-3 to Atletico Tucuman at home and dropped down to the third spot in group 1 following Sarandi Arsenal’s success over Racing Club. In fact, Juan Manuel Azconzabal’s men lost three of their last four games in this competition, along with a single win, to make it seven points in six games.
Defensa y Justicia was bottom in group 2 with just two points (having drawn two and lost four) after their 1-0 away defeat at Independiente in an uneventful game last time out, when coach Hernan Crespo fielded an alternative XI. El Halcon is winless in their last four away matches in top-flight action, drawing two and losing two. On Wednesday 8, Defensa won 3-2 at Bahia from Brazil in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana’s quarter-finals, so coach Hernan Crespo will continue to rest his regulars in the league in view of the return leg, which will take place next Wednesday.
None of the usual Defensa y Justicia starters will be in the XI on Sunday and there could be several debuts so I have to go with the hosts even if they haven’t been the most reliable team lately.