Lanus will be looking to extend their two-match winning streak in the 2024 Argentine Primera Division when they take on Platense at Estadio Ciudad de Lanus - Nestor Diaz Perez on Monday.
Meanwhile, the visitors will also head into this clash with the hope of preserving their ongoing unbeaten run, having not lost any of their last eight league games.
Match preview
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Lanus failed to win a single game in the Argentine Primera Division for close to three months, enduring a 10-match stretch of five draws and five defeats, while they also exited the Copa Sudamericana, losing 2-1 on aggregate to Cruzeiro in the semi-finals.
However, November brought a much-needed change for El Granate, as they successfully ended the run this month, winning both of their games so far.
A 1-0 home win over Boca Juniors on November 3 was followed by a comeback 2-1 victory away at Talleres last time out, thanks to goals from Marcelino Moreno and Ezequiel Munoz.
Ricardo Zielinski's men are 18th in the table with 26 points from 21 matches, leaving them in 12th place on the aggregate table, four points away from a Sudamericana qualification spot.
Next in line for El Granate is a home game against Platense, a side they have faced only five times in history, with two of those clashes ending in draws, while the hosts have won twice and lost once.
Lanus are the latest winners in this fixture, having recorded a 3-0 victory back in February, a game that kickstarted the hosts' last three-match winning streak – a streak they have the opportunity to match on Monday.
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Platense have hit a decent patch since mid-September, with Favio Orsi's side yet to lose a game since then, recording five draws and three wins.
However, El Calamar have now had consecutive goalless draws in their last two matches, first against Tigre and the latest against Deportivo Riestra, which will leave the manager with concerns about a lack of clinicality up front, having generated 17 goal attempts across both games.
The Buenos Aires-based side are 12th in the second phase table with 29 points, while they are 14th in the aggregate table with 47 points, six points away from a Sudamericana qualification spot.
Platense will hope to end their drought and winless streak on Monday, but that will require El Calamar to pick up a first-ever away win at Lanus, having drawn and lost on their two visits there.
Team News
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Lanus will be missing Abel Luciatti due to a muscle injury that is expected to keep him sidelined until later this month, while Raul Loaiza is out for the season with an ACL injury.
Nicolas Morgantini is expected to remain sidelined until early December with his Achilles tendon problem, with Leandro Diaz having the same issue and return timeline.
Nery Dominguez is a few weeks away from returning from his groin strain, with Ramiro Carrera also out for the next few weeks with a muscle injury.
Platense also have a plethora of injuries heading into this clash, including Franco Minerva who is sidelined for the next couple of weeks due to physical discomfort.
Raul Lozano and Ciro Rius have ACL injuries and are expected to return to the pitch by the end of this month, while Leonel Picco is also expected to recover from his calf injury in late November.
Juan Pablo Pignani's foot injury and Juan Pablo Goicochea's muscle issue are expected to keep both players out until mid-November.
Lanus possible starting lineup:
Losada; Caceres, Izquierdoz, Munoz, Soler; Biafore, Perez; Acosta, Moreno, Salvio; Bou
Platense possible starting lineup:
Cozzani; Schelotto, Vazquez, Suso, Marcich; Villalba, Juarez; Mainero, Taborda, Baldassarra; Pellegrino
We say: Lanus 1-1 Platense
Lanus have been impressive this month, and have lost only two home games since June, and we expect them to have enough to earn a draw against a Platense side that has also shown that they are resilient.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
