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Argentine Primera Division | Gameweek 4
Jun 19, 2022 at 10pm UK
Estadio 15 de Abril

Union
1 - 5
River Plate

Peralta (79')
Machuca (41'), Luna Diale (66')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Romero (16'), Fernandez (59'), Alvarez (73', 90+5'), Palavecino (87')
de la Cruz (43'), Perez (45+1'), Herrera (54')

Preview: Union vs. River Plate - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Argentine Primera Division clash between Union and River Plate, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Fresh off the back of picking up their first win of the season, Union welcome River Plate to the Estadio 15 de Abril in round four of the Primera Division on Sunday.

Los Millonarios, on the other hand, failed to win their opening three outings for the first time since 2018 and will be looking to end this poor run.


Match preview

Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring for River Plate on April 14, 2022© Reuters

Union got the Primera Division campaign up and running last Wednesday when they claimed a 2-1 victory over Barracas Central at the Estadio Islas Malvinas.

In an action-packed contest, Jonathan Alvez and Emanuel Britez scored first-half goals to put the visitors in a comfortable lead before Fernando Valenzuela pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 69th minute.

Prior to that, Gustavo Munua's men suffered a 2-1 defeat against Tigre in their season opener on June 5 before playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Colon de Santa one week later.

While Union will look to make it two wins from two for the first time since April, they have struggled to get going on home turf, where they have lost three and drawn one of their last five games.

River Plate's Julian Alvarez celebrates scoring their first goal against Boca Juniors on October 3, 2021© Reuters

Elsewhere, River Plate failed to find their feet in the Primera Division as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Colon de Santa last Wednesday.

Despite seeing just 33% of the ball possession and being on the back foot for most of the game, former Boca Juniors man Ramon Abila scored against the run of play in the 72nd minute to hand the hosts all three points.

River Plate have now failed to win any of their opening three games in the league after playing out goalless draws against Defensa y Justicia and Atletico Tucuman in their first two outings.

This poor start has been owing to their toothless display at the attacking end of the pitch as Marcelo Gallardo's side have now failed to score in three straight games for the first time since August 2018, when they went four matches without finding the target.

However, Los Millonarios will fancy their chances of ending this drip spell as they go up against an opposing side who they are unbeaten against in eight of the last 10 meetings between the sides, claiming five wins and three draws in that time.

Union Argentine Primera Division form:
  • L
  • D
  • W

Union form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W

River Plate Argentine Primera Division form:
  • D
  • D
  • L

River Plate form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • L


Team News

River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo during the match on April 6, 2022© Reuters

Union will take to the pitch without the services of Argentine defender Brian Blasi, who has been sidelined since last April through a muscle problem.

He is joined on the club's injury table by the duo of Juan Nardoni and Diego Polenta, who both missed the trip to Barracas Central on Wednesday.

With his strike in the aforementioned game, Alves has now scored in four successive games and the Uruguayan forward will certainly be one to keep an eye on.

As for River Plate, Gallardo will be unable to call upon Colombian midfielder Juan Quintero, who has been out of action since last April through a hamstring problem.

Veteran defender Milton Casco is also out of contention for the visitors as the 34-year-old is set to sit out his fourth straight game through a calf issue.

Other names on the club's injury table include Matias Suarez (muscle), Robert Rojas (leg), Franco Paredes (ACL) and Felipe Pena Biafore, who is yet to make an appearance for River Plate this year.

Union possible starting lineup:
Mele; Britez, Calderon, Polenta, Corvalan; Roldan, Nardoni; Vera, Diale, Zenon; Alvez

River Plate possible starting lineup:
Armani; Herrera, Maidana, Gonzalez, Gomez; Perez, Fernandez, Palavecino; Barco, Simon, Alvarez


SM words green background

We say: Union 1-1 River Plate

Looking at past results between the sides, we anticipate a thrilling contest with plenty of goalmouth action. While Union will be looking to build on Wednesday's victory, we predict the visitors will do just enough to force a share of the spoils.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Union vs River Plate

Union
28.6%
Draw
28.6%
River Plate
42.9%
7
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Velez SarsfieldVelez Sarsfield23128335152044
2HuracanHuracan23119327151242
3Racing ClubRacing23124734221240
4River PlateRiver Plate2299430161436
5TalleresTalleres229942622436
6UnionUnion2310672422236
7Atletico TucumanTucuman2310672524136
8Boca Juniors239772823534
9Platense238961816233
10Instituto239592925432
11Deportivo Riestra238872424032
12EstudiantesEstudiantes2371062624231
13IndependienteIndependiente2261241914530
14BelgranoBelgrano227962725230
15GimnasiaGimnasia227872019129
16TigreTigre237882628-229
17Godoy CruzGodoy Cruz2361072325-228
18San Lorenzo237791921-228
19Central CordobaC. Cordoba237792630-428
20LanusLanus2361072228-628
21Rosario CentralRosario236892423126
22Argentinos JuniorsArgentinos Jrs2375111823-526
23Defensa y JusticiaDefensa236892431-726
24Independiente Rivadavia226791523-825
25BanfieldBanfield2357112029-922
26Sarmiento224991523-821
27Newell's Old BoysNewell's OB2356121732-1521
28Barracas Central2237121029-1916


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