Fresh off the back of losing their first game in the 2024 Argentine Primera Division campaign, Talleres play host to Defensa y Justicia at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes on Wednesday.
El Halcon, who are one of just four sides yet to taste victory in the league this season, head into the midweek game looking to snap an 11-game winless run across all competitions and get their campaign up and running.
Match preview
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Talleres were condemned to their first defeat of the new Primera Division campaign as they suffered a 3-0 thrashing against Velez Sarsfield when they met at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani on Sunday night.
Despite seeing over 60% of the ball possession and being on the front foot for most of the game, the visitors were guilty of a lack of sting in attack as Braian Romero, Claudio Aquino and Thiago Fernandes all found the back of the net to hand Velez all three points.
Walter Ribonetto's men had won all but one of their first five games to start the league — scoring 11 goals and keeping two clean sheets — with a goalless draw against Boca Juniors on May 26 being the exception.
Prior to Monday's defeat, Talleres were involved in three friendly games at the start of the month, suffering back-to-back defeats against Zenit St. Petersburg and Sochi before claiming a 1-0 victory over Serbian powerhouse Red Star Belgrade.
Having picked up 13 points from their six Primera Division games, the Albiazul are currently fifth in the league standings, level on points with Instituto Cordoba and Racing Club, but could move top of the table with all three points on Wednesday.
Talleres will be backing themselves to quickly find their feet as they return home, where they are on a five-game winning streak and are unbeaten in each of their last 13 matches, claiming 11 wins and two draws since January's 1-0 defeat against Gimnasia.
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Defensa y Justicia, on the other hand, were involved in a share of the spoils for the third consecutive game on Sunday night as they played out a 2-2 draw by Boca Junior after giving up their lead twice at the Norberto Tomaghello Stadium.
Santiago Ramos Mingo and Aaron Molinas scored on either side of Miguel Merentiel's 20th-minute equaliser to hand the hosts a first-half lead but Kevin Gutierrez scored an own goal in the 51st minute to draw Boca Junior level and force a share of the spoils.
Defensa have now gone 11 straight matches without a win across all competitions, losing six and claiming five draws — a run which has seen them crash out of the Copa Sudamericana after finishing third in Group A with five points from six matches.
Having clinched a sixth-placed finish in the Primera Division last season, Francisco Meneghini's men have stumbled into the new campaign, losing twice and claiming four draws in their six matches to sit 24th in the table with just four points from a possible 18.
While Defensa will be looking to stop the rot on Wednesday and get their season up and running, results on the road offer little optimism as they have lost five of their last six away matches, with a 1-1 draw against Atletico Tucuman on June 16 being the exception.
Team News
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Experienced defender Juan Rodriguez has been out of action since coming off injured against Independiente on April 16 and the 30-year-old is out of contention for Talleres.
He is joined in the club's injury table by 18-year-old midfielder Matias Gomez, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury last November.
Argentine forward Gustavo Bou, who signed from MLS side New England Revolution back in January, is set to sit out his 10th consecutive game after sustaining an injury against Tucuman on May 19.
Despite the disappointing performance against Velez, Bruno Barticciotto turned in a solid display at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani and the 23-year-old, who has four goals and one assist in five league games (three starts) should retain his role in the XI.
As for Defensa y Justicia, Meneghini will be unable to name 26-year-old midfielder Gaston Togni, who has been out of action since picking up an injury in March's game against Estudiantes.
David Barbona is yet to feature for El Halcon this year after sustaining a severe injury last December and the 29-year-old forward will also play no part in Wednesday's game.
Talleres possible starting lineup:
Herrera, Benavidez, Catalan, Suarez, Navarro; Portillo, Ortegoza, Botta; Barticciotto, Girotti, Martinez
Defensa y Justicia possible starting lineup:
Fiermarin; Ferreira, Aguilera, Mingo; Portillo, Lopez, Gutierrez, Galvan; Herrera, Molinas, Miritello
We say: Talleres 3-1 Defensa y Justicia
The last six meetings between the Talleres and Defensa have produced a combined 21 goals and we anticipate another end-to-end affair at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes. Ribonetto's men have won their two home games this season and we fancy them to see off the visitors, who have struggled to find their feet so far.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
