Godoy Cruz will enter matchday five of the Argentine Primera Division campaign still seeking their first victory of the second phase when they host Rosario Central at Estadio Feliciano Gambarte on Wednesday.
In their previous domestic affair, Tomba failed to hang onto an early advantage, playing to a 1-1 draw with Estudiantes, while Rosario saved themselves near the end of their encounter with Lanus and claimed that same result.
Match preview
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With only two points after three matches in this phase of the competition, Godoy Cruz are barely hanging onto a Copa Sudamericana place for next season.
Having a superior goal difference to Lanus is the only thing keeping them in that final Sudamericana spot, as the club from Mendoza have not won a Primera affair since matchday 13 of the opening phase (1-0 over Sarmiento).
Five of their nine domestic triumphs in 2024 have occurred on their home field, though they are in danger of losing back-to-back domestic encounters at Estadio Feliciano Gambarte this week for the first time all season.
Daniel Oldra's men have failed to win their last two encounters in this competition when scoring first, dropping two points in a draw with Estudiantes last time out.
Finding the back of the net has been exceedingly difficult for them recently, scoring the joint-fewest goals in the second phase of the Primera Division campaign (one).
This upcoming encounter will be their first home contest against Rosario since 2021, when they triumphed 2-1 behind closed doors.
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Over the past few domestic encounters, Rosario have fought until the bitter end, enabling them to claim at least a point in three successive league fixtures.
Three of their last four goals scored in this competition were in the second half, including two beyond the 85th minute of play.
Miguel Angel Russo's side are well back of a Sudamericana spot next season, currently 21st in the overall table, eight points behind Godoy Cruz.
A victory on Wednesday would mark the first time in the Primera Division this season that they will have claimed consecutive triumphs away from home.
Canalla have dropped eight points in three domestic affairs this year when scoring the opening goal, and those missed opportunities are why they are not in a Sudamericana position at the moment.
While they have not won an away fixture at Godoy Cruz since the 2020 Copa Maradona (1-0), Rosario Central won their previous two domestic contests against them by a 1-0 score.
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Team News
Braian Salvareschi, who has a broken foot, will be out of the Godoy lineup until early July, and Facundo Altamira, who sustained a muscle injury, will not be back until the middle of June.
Vicente Poggi notched their opening goal against Estudiantes, as he and Nahuel Ulariaga are the only players to find the back of the net for them in the second phase.
Rosario will be without Francis Mac Allister until the middle of this month as he recovers from an ACL issue, while Agustin Sandez is still experiencing physical discomfort.
Marco Ruben netted his first goal of the second phase for them earlier this month, joining Fabricio Oviedo, Luca Martinez, Facundo Mallo and Agustin Modica as the only other players to score for them in the second round.
Godoy Cruz possible starting lineup:
Petroli; Arce, Barrios, Rasmussen, Guillen; Fernandez, Leyes, Poggi; Pino, Ulariaga, Cejas
Rosario Central possible starting lineup:
Broun; Coronel, Mallo, Komar, F. Rodriguez; Cerrudo, Ibarra, Martinez, Lovera; Copetti, Modica
We say: Godoy Cruz 2-1 Rosario Central
Even though they have not begun the second phase well, we trust that Godoy Cruz can return to winning ways this weekend against a side that are not as stingy defensively as they are.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
