Velez vs Sarmiento

Velez Sarsfield wasted another chance to edge closer to a new league title. On Sunday, the team were lucky to secure a scoreless away draw at Godoy Cruz. That result means El Fortin are without defeat in their last eight in league action, but winning just two of those and drawing six. Therefore, they are still Liga Profesional leaders on 45 points, but just two over second-placed Huracan with three rounds to go. Velez have been unbeaten in their last 17 at home, winning 12 and drawing five in that spell. On Wednesday 27, they won 4-3 over Boca Juniors in the Copa Argentina semi-finals. Centre back Emanuel Mammana overcame a muscle problem and is available. Damian Fernandez is ready to return from suspension on Sunday. One of those two will replace Patricio Pernicone in the only expected change with regard to the last league game.

Sarmiento finally returned to winning ways last Tuesday, when they secured a hard-fought 1-0 home success over Platense thanks to a strike from Joaquin Gho in the first half. As a result, El Verde claimed their first victory under recently-appointed coach Javier Sanguinetti to stop a seven-match winless streak in league action (three stalemates and four defeats). They made it 24 points in as many Liga Profesional, still not enough to leave the bottom spot in the aggregate table (trailing Tigre by two). Sarmiento remain without a win in their last nine as the visiting side, drawing three and losing six.

The math is simple for Velez: they need to win and hopefully with a convincing performance because there are only 3 games left and Racing, Talleres and Huracan are dangerously close. They are playing at home against one of the weakest teams in the league and anything different from a home win would be a huge surprise.

BET: Velez -1.5 @ 1.99