Gameweek six in the second phase of the Argentine Primera Division season will see Belgrano taking on Deportivo Riestra at Estadio Julio Cesar Villagra on Friday night.
The hosts are in 10th place with eight points after the first five matches, while the visitors are two points behind their opponents and are currently in 18th place.
Match preview
After a dismal first half of the season, where they managed just 14 points in as many matches, Belgrano have begun the second phase much more promisingly.
El Pirata have managed two wins, two draws and just one loss in their first five matches of this phase, with that sole loss coming against defending champions River Plate in mid-May.
Ahead of the international break, Juan Cruz Real's side were on a four-match unbeaten streak, which included a 2-1 victory over Internacional that saw them clinch top spot in their Copa Sudamericana group.
After failing to manage a single victory in their first six matches in all competitions this season, Belgrano have been significantly better under Real's guidance, with the new boss currently holding a record of seven wins, five draws and just two losses in his 14 games in charge.
Additionally, the hosts only won a single home game in the first half of the campaign, but are unbeaten at Deportivo Riestra at Estadio Julio Cesar Villagra in the second phase, and are now gunning for a third win in a row.
Meanwhile, Deportivo Riesta earned promotion to the Argentine Primera Division for the first time in their 92-year history last season but found the first phase fairly difficult, finishing 12th in Group A with 13 points in their 14 games.
Blanquinegro got the second phase off to a promising start, beating San Lorenzo 1-0 in the first match, but then suffered four consecutive defeats, including a 1-0 loss to Newell's Old Boys which led to them being knocked out of the Copa Argentina.
However, Cristian Fabbiani's side pulled off an against-the-odds 2-0 victory over River Plate directly before the international break, marking their biggest scalp in the top flight so far.
On the road, though, Los Malevos de Pompeya have struggled for results, currently winless in their last four league games, while managing just six points from a possible 27 across both phases this season.
The last time these sides met was in April 2022 which ended in a 2-1 defeat for the visitors, and that was their third consecutive match without victory against this opponent dating back to June 2021.
Team News
Centre-forward Lucas Passerini is the hosts' top scorer this season with six goals to his name, but he sustained a cruciate ligament tear at the start of April and could miss the remainder of the season.
Ulises Sanchez is likely done for the season, also due to a cruciate ligament tear, while Matias Marin is recovering from a foot injury and is out until next month. Alex Ibacache is flagged as a doubt owing to an illness.
Deportivo Riestra have just one known injury absentee coming into this match in the form of midfielder Yaison Murillo, who is only expected to return to action in September.
The visitors have only scored three goals in the second phase of the season and Fabbiani may consider shaking things up in attack, possibly by bringing Nicolas Benegas into the starting 11 after he came off the bench to score the second goal against River Plate before the international break.
Belgrano possible starting lineup:
Losada; Rebola, Troilo, Baldi, Barinaga; Velazquez, Metilli, Rolon, Quignon, Longo, Suarez
Deportivo Riestra possible starting lineup:
Arce, Barrionuevo, Sansotre, Torres, Ramirez, Goitia; Celiz, Pereira, Monje; Benegas, Herrera
We say: Belgrano 2-1 Deportivo Riestra
While neither of these sides have set the league alight this season, Belgrano have looked better in the second phase and were unbeaten in their last three matches ahead of the international break. This should be a fairly even contest but we fancy the hosts to claim the points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
