Gimnasia will be aiming to close the gap on the teams above them in the Argentine Primera Division when they host San Lorenzo, who are struggling at the bottom of the table, at Estadio Juan Carmelo Zerillo on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, the visitors, one of four teams yet to register a victory this season, will be desperate for their first win.
Match preview
© Imago
Gimnasia resumed after the league's month-long break with a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Independiente Rivadavia at Estadio Bautista Gargantini last Thursday.
El Lobo, who finished 22nd last year, started the second phase strongly with a three-game unbeaten run that included wins over Velez Sarsfield and Banfield, along with a draw against Defensa y Justicia.
However, Marcelo Mendez's side could not maintain this form, losing two of their next three matches, with their only win coming against Barracas Central just before the break.
Gimnasia currently sit eighth in the table after six matches, on 10 points, which leaves them four points adrift of the top spot.
Mendez's team are yet to record back-to-back results, and they will hope to change that trend when they face a San Lorenzo side in poor form on Tuesday.
The home side will be buoyed by their perfect home record, having won all three of their league matches at Estadio Juan Carmelo Zerillo.
San Lorenzo head into this clash desperate for their first three points of the season, having played five matches so far, drawing two and losing three.
Having finished third in the Argentine top-flight last year and progressing to the knockout stages of the current Copa Libertadores campaign, it is a shock to see the 15-time league champions just two places off the bottom of the table.
Following a fan attack on the team during their match against Godoy Cruz (which was suspended at 1-1), Los Santos have a game in hand to be played behind closed doors at a later date.
In their first game back after the break, Leandro Romagnoli's side could not hold onto an early lead, settling for a 1-1 draw with Huracan at Estadio Pedro Bidegain last Saturday.
San Lorenzo's two points have come from home games, as they have lost both their away games so far - a worrying sign for the visitors ahead of Tuesday's encounter.
Team News
Gimnasia have a number of injuries heading into this fixture, including Ivo Mammini who has been out with a cruciate ligament tear since March.
Cristian Colman, Lautaro Chavez, Leandro Mamut, Nicolas Colazo and Matias Miranda are also nursing different injuries and are expected to miss this match.
Yonathan Cabral was sent off for two bookable offences in Thursday's defeat, which means he is suspended and unavailable for selection.
San Lorenzo will remain without the duo of Manuel Insaurralde and Gaston Hernandez, who are both out with cruciate ligament tears and not expected to return until later in the year.
Goalkeeper Gaston Gomez is also sidelined with a muscle injury, while right-back Gonzalo Lujan is away with Argentina at the Olympic Games.
Gimnasia possible starting lineup:
Insfran; Pintado, Morales, Canto, Gallo; Bolivar, Blasis; Abaldo, Castro, Dominguez, Castillo
San Lorenzo possible starting lineup:
Altamirano; Arias, Romana, Campi, Braida; Remedi, Irala; Leguizamon, Barrios, Cuello; Tarragona
We say: Gimnasia 1-0 San Lorenzo
Gimnasia go into this match looking to maintain their unblemished home record, and San Lorenzo's woeful away form will give them confidence.
We expect a tight encounter, but we are predicting a narrow victory for the home side and San Lorenzo's struggles in front of goal suggest a clean sheet could be on the cards for Gimnasia.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
