San Lorenzo can extend their winning run at Estadio Pedro Bidegain to three matches in all competitions when they host Lanus on Monday.
Both sides lost their opening match in the second phase of the Argentine Primera Division campaign, with El Ciclon suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat versus Deportivo Riestra and Lanus losing 2-0 to Independiente Rivadavia.
Match preview
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The 2024 domestic campaign continues to be a struggle for San Lorenzo lately, as they are now winless in four successive matches in this competition.
Led by co-coaches Leandro Romagnoli and Gonzalo Prosperi, they have gone three successive Primera matches without finding the back of the net while scoring the second-fewest goals in Group B in the opening phase (10).
While they are in a slump domestically, there are some encouraging signs that this team may be turning the corner, winning consecutive matches at the Copa Libertadores and scoring a combined five goals, with both victories coming on their home field.
All three of their league triumphs so far this season have occurred at home, where they have suffered just two defeats to this stage of the 2024 domestic campaign.
In the first phase of this competition, Los Cuervos suffered just one defeat when scoring the opening goal, losing 2-1 to Boca Juniors on matchday 12.
They have just one victory in their last three meetings against Lanus in all competitions, winning 1-0 away from home in the Copa de la Liga last August.
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Like San Lorenzo, we have also seen two different Lanus sides show up to this point of the 2024 campaign, one fairly impressive and the other not so much.
Domestically, they are winless in their last four fixtures, including three successive defeats, while they are undefeated after five matchdays in the Copa Sudamericana, including four successive triumphs.
Although they lost their previous away contest in this competition (2-0 to Racing Club), Ricardo Zielinski's men have been at their best when playing outside of Estadio Ciudad de Lanus this season, winning five of their previous six league contests as the visiting team.
Things may not be going so well for them domestically of late, but overall, they are still in the hunt for a place in the Copa Sudamericana next season, with only two points currently separating them from Velez Sarsfield.
After squandering a 1-0 lead and losing 2-1 to Estudiantes on the final matchday of the opening phase, Lanus have done a better job of maintaining their advantages, winning three successive matches in all competitions when scoring first and failing to concede in any of those victories.
Granate have triumphed in their last two visits to Estadio Pedro Bidegain, most recently winning 2-0 in the opening phase of the 2024 competition.
Team News
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On Monday, San Lorenzo will be without Gaston Hernandez and Manuel Insaurralde because of ACL injuries, while Facundo Altamirano is dealing with a hamstring strain.
Only three players who began their final domestic encounter of the opening phase, were in the starting 11 for their first match of the second round, Gonzalo Lujan, Jhohan Romana and Francisco Perruzzi.
Leandro Diaz and Nery Dominguez are expected to be out of the Lanus lineup until late May with a hamstring and muscle injury, respectively.
Lucas Acosta returned from a sprained ankle in their opening match of this phase, coming off the substitutes bench, while Agustin Rodriguez will have to sit out with a red card suspension.
San Lorenzo possible starting lineup:
Gomez; Lujan, Romana, Sanchez, Hernandez, Baez; Medina, Perruzzi, Tapia; Herazo, Bareiro
Lanus possible starting lineup:
Aguerre; Perez, Munoz, Luciatti, Soler; Acosta, Biafore, Loaiza, Carrera; Lotti, Bou
We say: San Lorenzo 1-0 Lanus
San Lorenzo seem to have rediscovered their scoring touch in the Libertadores, and we believe that will breathe new life into their attack on Monday and give them an advantage against Lanus.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
