Talleres host Platense at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes on Friday, keen to stay among the Argentine Primera Division's leading sides after gameweek five.
The home side are undefeated after four rounds and are undoubted favourites against an opponent whose start to the second half of the campaign has been mixed.
Match preview
Talleres seek their fourth league win of this term when they host Platense, looking to continue a commendable start that sees them joint-top of the Argentine top flight.
A strong start has seen La T accrue 10 points from a possible 12, level with Racing Club on double figures but second in the standings due to their inferior goal difference.
Only Boca Juniors have prevented Walter Ribonetto's men from claiming maximum points, with that goalless encounter the only time Tallarin have failed to score in the league this season.
Another scoreless match followed in the Copa Libertadores to Sao Paulo (2-0 loss), but two consecutive wins against Central Cordoba (4-2) in the league and Colon (1-0) in a domestic cup triumph means La T head into Friday's match on a two-match winning run.
Having avoided defeat at Estadio Cordoba since January 2024, supporters will expect another positive result for their side against an opponent in indifferent form.
Without a deep dive, Platense's three-game undefeated streak could throw some doubt into the Talleres camp, but five points from nine (five from 12 to start the season) leaves the away side 17th in the table.
Calamares' inability to find the back of the net consistently has limited Favio Orsi and Sergio Gomez's team, whose second goal this term was enough for the points in a 1-0 triumph over Boca Juniors at the start of June.
However, Platense fired blanks in their Copa Argentina elimination by Huracan on penalties, and Tinta de Calamar hope to put that disappointment behind them on Friday.
Doubly bothersome for the visitors is Platense's away record which has seen them record two road victories in 10 league matches (five losses), underlining the uphill proposition Marron face at Estadio Cordoba.
Given the club's extended underwhelming away record, avoiding defeat against the joint-leaders at Estadio Cordoba will be a positive outcome.
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Team News
Gustavo Bou (groin) and Ulises Ortegoza (knee) are absent for Talleres because of their injury worries.
Bruno Barticciotto, scorer of three of the home side's nine goals, should carry much of the attacking responsibility on Friday.
Gomez has several injured players in his Platense squad, with Raul Lozano (knee), Gonzalo Valdivia (ankle), Ciro Rius (knee), Gabriel Hachen (muscle), Carlos Villalba (foot) all absent in gameweek five.
Mateo Pellegrino has netted both Calamares goals this season, and the forward hopes to be his side's difference-maker again.
Talleres possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Benavidez, Catalan, Suarez, Navarro; J. Portillo, Galarza, M. Portillo; Martinez, Girotti, Barticciotto
Platense possible starting lineup:
Cozzani; Saborido, Vazquez, Suso, Quiroga; Juarez, Gomez, Picco, Ocampo; Pellegrino, Martinez
We say: Talleres 2-0 Platense
Talleres seem to be in healthier form than Platense, and that reliability in performance at both ends of the pitch means the home side should secure maximum points against their inconsistent opponent for a fourth league triumph in five games.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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