Velez vs Gimnasia
In the context of a poor league campaign in 2022 (22nd place in the aggregate table), Velez Sarsfield ended up last season with three wins across their last four matches (losing one in that spell). In fact, they are on five home wins in a row (including one at Boca Juniors). Ahead of the upcoming season, coach Alexander Medina will be missing Maximo Perrone (sold to Manchester City FC, England) and Lucas Hoyos (Newell’s Old Boys) in a total of six departures. On the other hand, Juan Ignacio Mendez is the most relevant signing, arriving from San Lorenzo. Velez were unbeaten in the preseason, winning four and drawing two.
Gimnasia LP wasted the chance of qualifying to the 2023 Copa Libertadores following their 2-1 away defeat to Talleres in the last round. A four-match winless streak of one draw and three defeats dropped them down to sixth in the aggregate table. In fact, El Lobo won one of their last six on the road (drawing two and losing three). Things could be harder this season: an economical crisis resulted in the departure of 11 players, including Brahian Aleman (to Banfield), Rodrigo Rey (Independiente), Ramon Sosa (Talleres), Manuel Insaurralde and Agustin Cardozo (returning to San Lorenzo and Tigre respectively).
Gimnasia lost almost all their important players and the coach that took them high last season, and I can’t think of them as better than this Velez that finished last season with 5 home wins in a row.