Belgrano will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat when they host Godoy Cruz at Estadio Julio Cesar Villagra on Tuesday. The visitors, on the other hand, will be hoping to build on their first win of the season, achieved in their last outing.
Match Preview
Belgrano had enjoyed a strong run of form prior to their recent setback, recording four wins and a draw in their previous five matches, including a 2-1 victory over Internacional in the Copa Sudamericana on 29 May. However, their five-match unbeaten streak across all competitions came to an end with a 2-0 defeat to Lanus at El Estadio Ciudad de Lanus last Thursday, dropping them to ninth in the Argentine Primera Division table.
This loss to Lanus was the first time Juan Cruz Real's side had conceded more than one goal in a match since their previous defeat to River Plate on May 18. Belgrano will be keen to regain their momentum and start a new winning run, but they face a tough challenge against Godoy Cruz, having failed to win any of their last four encounters with the visitors.
The last meeting between the two teams took place at Estadio Julio Cesar Villagra, resulting in a 1-0 defeat for the home side. However, Belgrano have never lost consecutive home matches to Godoy Cruz.
Godoy Cruz secured their first victory in the second phase of the Argentine top flight with a 2-1 triumph over reigning champions River Plate at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas last Wednesday. La Bodeguero fell behind when Miguel Borja scored for River Plate, but Vicente Poggi's quick-fire brace just before the half-hour mark turned the tide in their favour.
Despite this victory, Daniel Oldra's side remain in the second-bottom position in the league standings due to a three-point deduction earlier in the campaign. Despite drawing three matches before the win, Godoy Cruz were left pointless prior to the River Plate match.
Godoy Cruz will be aiming to win consecutive matches for the first time since April, but to achieve this, they will need to secure their first away victory of the campaign.
Team News
Belgrano will be without the services of 30-year-old forward Lucas Passerini and 26-year-old right winger Ulises Sanchez, who are both sidelined with cruciate ligament injuries. Facundo Quignon, Rafael Delgado, Matias Marin and Alex Ibacache are also unavailable for selection due to injuries.
Godoy Cruz will also be missing Tomas Pozzo and Nahuel Ulariaga, both ruled out with cruciate ligament tears. Juan Cejas and Braian Salvareschi remain sidelined, yet to recover from muscle and foot injuries respectively.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Belgrano: Chicco; Troilo, Rebola, Baldi; Barinaga, Rolon, Longo, Metilli; Jara, Fernandez, Reyna
Godoy Cruz: Petroli; Luciano, Rasmussen, Barrios, Arce; Poggi, Sosa, Fernandez; Barrea, Pino, Altamira
Prediction:
Belgrano are unbeaten at home since the start of the second phase and possess greater firepower than Godoy Cruz. This gives them a slight advantage, and we predict a narrow victory for the home side in what is likely to be a closely contested match.
We Say: Belgrano 1-0 Godoy Cruz
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