Two teams seeking to return to winning ways do battle at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona in Buenos Aires as Argentinos Juniors play host to Colon in the Argentine Primera Division on Sunday.
Goals have been hard to come by for both clubs heading into this contest as they have failed to find the net in each of their last three matches.
Match preview
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After losing back-to-back away games against Independiente del Valle and Banfield, Argentinos Juniors have since played out successive goalless draws with Instituto and Barracas Central, claiming a point against the latter last Monday.
Seven points dropped in the last three league games has seen Gabriel Milito's side slip to 11th place in the Primera Division first-phase standings, but they are still in with a chance of bettering last season's eighth-placed finish in the first phase as they are just three points behind Godoy Cruz in eighth with three games remaining.
Argentinos will view Sunday's match with Colon as their most favourable remaining fixtures considering their final two are against Estudiantes and San Lorenzo who are placed inside the top six.
El Bicho have comfortably come out on top in their last two meetings with Colon, winning 4-0 on the road in September 2022 and 3-1 on home soil in October 2021.
Milito's men will be confident of success in Buenos Aires having put together a five-game unbeaten run at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona, keeping three clean sheets in the process.
Like Argentinos, Colon also had to settle for a goalless draw last time out as they were frustrated on home soil against Belgrano last Monday.
Nestor Gorosito's side have been hovering around the foot of the Primera Division table throughout the first phase and they are currently languishing in 24th place having won just one of their last nine league games.
The Santa Fe-based outfit need to pick up four points from their final three first-phase fixtures if they wish to match their points total of 29 from last year, and with games against Argentinos, 19th-placed Tigre and basement club Arsenal Sarandi still to come, Gorosito will hope to end the first phase on a high.
However, success on Sunday could prove challenging as they have won only one of their 11 away league matches so far this season, scoring just six goals in the process – only Arsenal Sarandi (five) have scored fewer on the road this term.
Colon have also struggled in recent meetings with Argentinos as they have failed to win any of their last four encounters and have not scored in three of those.
Team News
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Argentinos attacking duo Lucas Ambrogio and Facundo Ferreyra both remain sidelined through injury, although the latter could be in a position to return from a calf problem later this month.
Top scorer Gabriel Avalos has netted nine of his 11 league goals this season on home soil, and the 32-year-old is expected to lead the line again on Sunday, with support provided in attack by advanced midfielders Alan Rodriguez and Francisco Gonzalez.
After keeping back-to-back clean sheets, goalkeeper Alexis Arias should keep his place between the sticks behind central defensive trio Pablo Minissale, Marco Di Cesare and Lucas Villalba.
As for Colon, Joaquin Ibanez returned to the matchday squad last time out and watched on as an unused substitute after recovering from a muscle problem; the winger will be looking to force his way back into the first XI on Sunday at the expense of Carlos Arrua.
Captain Facundo Garces and top scorer Ramon Abila both missed the last match due to suspension, but the duo are available to return against Argentinos and they should start at centre-back and up front respectively, with Gian Nardelli and Facundo Faris potentially making way.
Argentinos Juniors possible starting lineup:
Arias; Minissale, Di Cesare, Villalba; Cabrera, Redondo, Moyano, Montiel; F. Gonzalez, Rodriguez; Avalos
Colon possible starting lineup:
I. Chicco; Meza, Garces, Goltz, Delgano; Pierotti, Perlaza, Vega, Ibanez; Benitez, Abila
We say: Argentinos Juniors 1-0 Colon
A tight affair could be on the cards between two teams who are struggling to find their best form in front of goal, but considering the home record of Argentinos Juniors and their recent meetings with Colon, we believe that the hosts will do just enough to claim a slender victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
