On Friday, Deportivo Riestra can win consecutive home matches for the first time in the 2024 Argentine Primera Division campaign when they host Rosario Central at Estadio Guillermo Laza.
Last weekend, Riestra lost their first match in the second phase, 2-0 versus Estudiantes, while Rosario scored late to claim a 1-1 draw with Tigre.
Match preview
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Following a solid defensive showing in their opening match of the second round, Deportivo regressed significantly on Monday, conceding eight efforts on target while only managing one themselves.
That extended their winless run away from home in the Primera this season to three matches, though they have points in three successive league contests on home soil.
Their most recent home victory over San Lorenzo (1-0) to begin the second phase of this competition was the fourth time they had posted a clean sheet domestically this season.
Since a 17th-minute strike by Ramon Sosa of Talleres in early March, Matias Modolo's men have not conceded a single goal in this competition at Estadio Guillermo Laza.
In the opening phase of the 2024 Argentine Primera Division season, they claimed their first-ever point against Rosario, scoring in first-half stoppage time to draw 1-1.
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When all looked lost, Canalla found a lifeline in the dying stages of their weekend fixture, extending their unbeaten run at home in the Primera Division to three matches.
Away from home, things have not been so rosy for Miguel Angel Russo's men, who are on a four-match losing run as the visitors in this competition.
That equals their previous longest losing run over a single domestic campaign in 2022, but a win on Friday would match their total number of away victories during the 2023 league season (two).
On their current losing run, Rosario have been outscored by a combined margin of 11-3, with two of their goals scored coming in their opening away match of the second phase, when they lost 3-2 against Argentinos Juniors.
They have never lost to Deportivo Riestra in three previous meetings, and they knocked them out of the Copa Argentina twice in 2015 (3-1) and 2017 (2-1).
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Team News
Milton Celiz, who missed their opening match of the second phase through suspension, came off the bench this past weekend, replacing Guillermo Pereira in the second half, while Nahuel Iribarren sat out despite being eligible to play following his expulsion in their Copa Argentina defeat to Newell's Old Boys (1-0).
We saw the same starting 11 for them from matchday one begin their weekend fixture, with Celiz, Jose Mendez and Delfor Minervino being the only newcomers to feature.
Francis Mac Allister and Agustin Bravo were once again omitted from the Rosario team sheet on Monday because of ACL injuries, as was Abel Hernandez, who is still recovering from a thigh issue.
A 90th-minute strike by Facundo Mallo enabled them to earn a point against Tigre, the first goal of the season for the Uruguayan defender.
Deportivo Riestra possible starting lineup:
Arce; Murillo, Barrionuevo, Sansotre, Dematei; Landriel, Rodriguez, Monje, Celiz; Fernandez, Herrera
Rosario Central possible starting lineup:
Broun; D. Martinez, Mallo, Quintana, Sandez; M. Martinez, O'Connor; Lovera, Malcorra, Campaz; Modica
We say: Deportivo Riestra 1-1 Rosario Central
Neither side have been able to find that little bit extra that can turn one point into three, which is why we project a stalemate between the two on Friday.
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