Sarmiento can end a six-match winless run in the Argentine Primera Division campaign when they host Independiente Rivadavia on Sunday at Estadio Eva Peron.
The Junin club have yet to claim a victory in the second phase of this competition, playing to a 1-1 draw with Barracas Central last weekend, while Rivadavia have yet to lose a second-round fixture, earning a 0-0 draw with Godoy Cruz the last time out.
Match preview
Over the past few weeks, the margin for error at Sarmiento has got rather thin, currently just four points above Tigre in the battle to stave off relegation.
On the positive side, though, Israel Damonte saw his side end a five-match domestic losing run a week ago, claiming their sixth away point in the Primera Division this year.
Half of the points that they have claimed in the overall domestic table this year have occurred when conceding the opening goal (5/10), while they have suffered three league defeats in 2024 when scoring the opening goal.
Eight of their 10 losses in this competition have been by a single goal, with six of those narrow defeats occurring on their home field.
While they have lost their last three league fixtures at home, Verde managed to find the back of the net in their opening match at Estadio Eva Peron in the second phase, suffering a 2-1 defeat versus Instituto.
They are undefeated at home versus Independiente Rivadavia, posting three clean sheets in their four previous competitive fixtures against them in Junin.
The second phase of the Primera Division campaign has begun promisingly for Independiente Rivadavia, who are featuring in the top flight for the first time.
Lepra have a chance this weekend to earn at least a point in three successive top-flight encounters for the first time in their history after ending the opening phase on an 11-match winless run in this competition.
Martin Cicotello's men have yet to concede a goal in this phase of the domestic campaign, while two of their three league triumphs this year have occurred away from home.
Not only have they been able to claim more points away from home, but El Azul have also shown more quality outside of Mendoza, with 10 of their 15 goals in league play this year occurring on the road.
Their recent results have put a little distance between themselves and the relegation zone, as they currently sit six points above Tigre in the overall table.
While they have never won an away match versus Sarmiento, Rivadavia have earned a positive result in three of their four visits to Estadio Eva Peron.
Team News
Last weekend, Sarmiento were without Lisandro Lopez, who is recovering from a muscle issue, while Agustin Molina continues to deal with an ACL injury.
Agustin Fontana converted a 29th-minute penalty, levelling their match with Barracas Central and enabling them to come away with a single point.
In their match with Godoy Cruz, Verdolaga were missing Federico Castro due to an ACL injury, Juan Manuel Vazquez is a few weeks away from returning from his muscle strain and Ruffino Lucero should be fully recovered from his wrist issue in early June.
Gonzalo Marinelli only had to make two stops last weekend to collect his second successive clean sheet in this competition and his third of the 2024 domestic campaign.
Sarmiento possible starting lineup:
Pourtau; E. Lopez, Paredes, Insaurralde, Gallardo; Man. Garcia, Godoy; Gho, Quiroga, Arismendi; Fontana
Independiente Rivadavia possible starting lineup:
Marinelli; Diaz, Petrasso, Bianchi, Palacios, Ostchega; Ham, Romero, Tonetto; Reali, Sartori
We say: Sarmiento 1-1 Independiente Rivadavia
Given their current position in the overall table, both sides will probably show plenty of desperation, but we do not believe that either team will have a decisive edge in this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
