River Plate vs Independiente
In spite of having to deal with several important absences, River Plate were able to take a 2-1 away success at Sarmiento last Monday, when Enzo Perez found the winner in stoppage time. El Millonario made it four games unbeaten in league action, with three victories and one draw in that span to make it 17 points (trailing leaders Talleres and Lanus by two). Furthermore, they climbed into one of the Copa Libertadores’ places in the 2021 aggregate table. River also grabbed ten points from the last 12 available at home in this competition (since losing to Colon in the league opener). Matias Suarez and Fabrizio Angileri remain doubtful due to their respective injuries while Franco Armani, Paulo Diaz, Robert Rojas, Hector Martinez and Julian Alvarez are still involved in the World Cup Qualifiers. Nicolas De la Cruz will also miss out again
Independiente recovered quickly from their first defeat in the Liga Profesional. Last weekend, they played enjoyable football to claim an easy 3-0 home success over defending champions Colon, with Alan Sonora netting a brace. Therefore, Julio Falcioni made it 18 points (following five victories, three draws and a single loss) to trail leaders Talleres and Lanus by one and also approach the Copa Libertadores’ places in the 2021 aggregate table. On away turf, El Rojo took seven points from 12 on offer so far.
River is missing too many important players due to the World Cup Qualifiers and some injuries, last week they were lucky to get a last minute win against Sarmiento but Independiente should be a tougher rival.
BET: Independiente +0.25 @ 1.96
Racing vs Banfield
Racing Club remain unbeaten since interim boss Claudio Ubeda took over the reins after Juan Antonio Pizzi’s departure, with two victories and two draws. Last Sunday, the team secured a scoreless stalemate at Boca Juniors to make it 16 points in nine matches in the Liga Profesional (trailing leaders by three). On a sorry note, the team have been displaced from the Copa Libertadores’ places last weekend. At home, La Academia are now on seven domestic matches unbeaten, winning five and drawing two since losing to Godoy Cruz in April.
Banfield are going through a worrying situation. Last time out, the team succumbed to a 4-2 home defeat to newly-promoted side Platense and extended their winless streak to six league matches (three draws and three losses). With only eight points in the Liga Profesional and already qualified for the Copa Sudamericana 2022, they seem to have a single aim left this season: to improve their points average in order to avoid relegation threats next year.
Banfield seems to be playing worse every week, Racing is at least tough defensively and at home I would expect them to win.
BET: Racing -0.25 @ 1.92
