Velez vs Independiente
Velez Sarsfield showed improvements regarding last season in their 2024 league debut, but they ended up registering an unlucky 1-1 away draw to Barracas Central at Lanus in coach Gustavo Quinteros’ debut. El Fortin took their first point in group A and accumulated five league matches unbeaten (two victories and three stalemates), sharing the bottom spot of the point-average table with Lanus (excluding the newcomers). Velez succumbed to a single defeat across their last ten home matches (winning six and drawing three).
After a hectic season last year, Independiente had a promising debut in 2024. Last Friday, the team celebrated a hard-fought 1-0 away success over newly-promoted side Independiente Rivadavia, with Ayrton Costa scoring the winner in the second half. El Rojo succumbed to a single defeat across their last five league games, winning two and drawing two in that time. On away turf, Independiente took six points from the last nine on offer as a product of two victories and one loss. Federico Mancuello succumbed to a muscle problem and will miss out.
I liked Velez’ performance in the 1st round even though they failed to win. Without having to worry about relegation (at least for now) they looked more relaxed and that made them play better. Independiente will miss their playmaker Federico Mancuello due to injury, and they are coming from a very tiring game at Mendoza where temperature was quite high so they could be tired playing twice in 4 days this early in the season, so I’ll go with the home win.