Seeking to make it three Primera Division wins on the trot for the first time this season, Velez Sarsfield visit the Estadio Alfredo Terrera to take on Central Cordoba on Monday.
El Ferroviario, who are currently rooted to the bottom of the table, will head into the game looking to end their run of three back-to-back home defeats and secure their first win of the campaign.
Match preview
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Central Cordoba continue to struggle for results in the new Primera Division campaign as they could only salvage a 1-1 draw with Tigre at the Estadio Jose Dellagiovanna on Thursday night.
In a game where Brian Leizza and Lucas Abascia received their marching orders, Tomas Galvan opened the scoring inside the opening minute to put Tigre in front before Luis Miguel Angulo restored parity with a 77th-minute strike.
Having lost each of their opening six matches, head coach Lucas Gonzalez will hope that his side can build on Friday's result as they look to begin their surge from the doldrums and put together a fine run of form.
Off the back of a 23rd-placed finish in the 2023 campaign, Central Cordoba find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Primera Division standings, having managed just one point from the first 21 available.
While El Ferroviario have scored seven goals — the second-most goals tally among the teams in the bottom half of the table, their underwhelming start to the season has been owing to their struggles at the defensive end of the pitch, where they have conceded 17 goals already.
Velez Sarsfield, on the other hand, continue to strengthen their position at the top half of the table as they picked up a 2-0 victory over Platense when the sides squared off on Thursday.
Thiago Fernandez broke the deadlock at the Estadio Ciudad de Vicente Lopez to hand the home side a first-half advantage before Michael Santos struck in the 91st minute to double the lead and put the result beyond reach.
Velez have now gone unbeaten in six of their last seven matches across all competitions — claiming four wins and two draws — with a 1-0 defeat against Boca Juniors on June 14 being the exception.
This solid run of form has seen Gustavo Quinteros's men book their spot in the Copa Argentina round of 16 as when they picked up a 2-0 victory over 10-man Arsenal Sarandi on June 6 courtesy of second-half goals from Francisco Pizzini and Fernandez.
Velez have picked up three wins and two draws in their seven Primera Division matches to collect 11 points and sit eighth in the table, but could move level with second-placed Union with all three points on Monday.
Team News
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Central Cordoba will have to cope without the services of 28-year-old defender Abascia, who is currently suspended after picking up a red card against Tigre last time out.
In his absence, 20-year-old Gonzalo Trindade will push for his second league start of the season, forming the back four with Rafael Barrios, Yonatthan Rak and Lautaro Rivero.
On the injury front, El Ferroviario remain without the duo of Sebastian Valdez and Thiago Nuss, who are currently recuperating from knee and meniscus injuries respectively.
Meanwhile, Velez will be without several players down the spine of the team as Yeison Gordillo (knee), Leonardo Jara (muscle) and Damian Fernandez (foot) all continue their spells on the sidelines.
Alejo Sarco is set to sit out his fourth consecutive game after coming off injured against Arsenal Sarandi on June 6 while fellow forward Rodrigo Pineiro is currently recuperating from a muscle problem.
Ricardo Centurion has been ruled out through a meniscus injury while 22-year-old defender Joaquin Garcia is currently on duty with Argentina's squad at the 2024 Olympics.
Central Cordoba possible starting lineup:
Ingolotti; Barrios, Trindade, Rak, Rivero; Sanchez, Benitez, Vazquez; Atencio, Varaldo, Godoy
Velez Sarsfield possible starting lineup:
Marchiori; Guidara, Mammana, Pernicone, Gomez; Ordonez, Bouzat; Pizzini, Aquino, Fernandez; Romero
We say: Central Cordoba 1-2 Velez Sarsfield
Central Cordoba have stumbled into the new campaign and will head into Monday's clash in search of a pick-me-up. While Gonzalez's men will look to build on Friday's result, they will need to show their mettle against a well-drilled Velez Sarsfield side, who have picked up three wins in their last four matches. That said, we predict a cagey affair at the Estadio Alfredo Terrera, with the visitors coming away with a narrow victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
