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Argentine Primera Division | Gameweek 22
Jul 1, 2023 at 1.30am UK
Estadio Jose Amalfitani

Velez Sarsfield
1 - 0
Arsenal

Castro (77')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Pombo (54'), Muscia (58'), Souto (76')

Preview: Velez Sarsfield vs. Arsenal Sarandi - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Argentine Primera Division clash between Velez Sarsfield and Arsenal Sarandi, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Velez Sarsfield welcome Arsenal Sarandi to Buenos Aires for a crucial encounter at the bottom of the Argentine Primera Division on Friday night.

The visitors currently lie bottom of the standings and Velez could join them in the second tier unless both improve on recent form.


Match preview

Thirteen matches without victory have dragged Velez deep into relegation trouble.

Dating back to mid-March, Velez have picked up just six points from a possible 39 and now find themselves above the relegation place on just goal difference to Banfield.

There were hopes that a 5-1 win over Deportivo Espanol in the cup would have helped turn a corner, but Marcelo Bravo's side have lost all three league encounters since.

With Banfield playing at home this week too, a defeat here for Velez could send them bottom of the table, with their upcoming opponents Arsenal currently at the foot of the standings.

Having the worst form in the division does not bode well for the recently-appointed Bravo heading into the final six games of the season, but they will hope to fall back on previous good form against Arsenal.

Velez have not lost in any of their 16 games against Arsenal at home dating back to 2002, winning eight, and remaining unbeaten would be a positive as it would bring an end to their current four-game losing streak in the league.

The Argentine relegation system means as it stands Arsenal will be relegated not only as the side currently bottom of the standings, but as the side with the worst accumulative points tally from the past three seasons.

Even if they can catch some of the sides above them in the current standings - the bottom 10 are currently separated by just seven points - the coefficient table will send them down, after they also finished bottom last season, before the relegation rule change.

A huge swing will be needed for them to avoid the drop ahead of newly-promoted Instituto in the coefficient table, with Arsenal's average tally of 0.97 a long way short of Instituto's, which is currently at 1.05.

Federico Vilar's side have beaten drastically underperforming duo Boca Juniors and Independiente in recent weeks, but they have lost 11 of their other 12 matches since the start of April.

That awful run of form also includes a shock defeat at home to third-tier Villa Mitre in the cup in Early May.

With five of Arsenal's final six matches pitting them against sides currently in the bottom 10, a number of wins are going to be required if they are to miraculously escape the drop, with this game and a clash against Instituto both likely to be crucial.

Velez Sarsfield Argentine Primera Division form:

Arsenal Sarandi Argentine Primera Division form:


Team News

Velez will remain without the injured Santiago Caseres for this one as he continues to recover from the injury which has kept him out for almost a year.

Top scorer Lucas Janson will hope to hit form again at an important time of the season, as he has not scored since a 3-3 draw with Banfield in early April.

Since then, Janson has been sent off and been benched twice, but he should start here alongside Julian Fernandez and Abiel Osorio in attack.

Arsenal will be able to welcome back Joaquin Pombo from suspension after he sat out the defeat against Platense last weekend.

However, they will be without their own top scorer Santiago Toloza after he picked up his fifth booking of the season in the same game.

Journeyman Luis Leal could come in to replace him after playing 28 minutes against Platense following the 36-year-old's return from international duty representing Sao Tome & Principe.

Velez Sarsfield possible starting lineup:
Gomez; Jara, Gianetti, Godin, Ortega; Seoane, Ordonez, Cabrera; Fernandez, Osorio, Janson

Arsenal Sarandi possible starting lineup:
Medina; Breitenbruch, Centurion, Cardozo, Pombo, Sporle; Biafore, Rivero, Guzman; Luis Leal, Londono


SM words green background

We say: Velez Sarsfield 1-1 Arsenal Sarandi

Arsenal have a poor record when travelling to the capital to face Velez, but many of their meetings have ended in draws.

With both sides woefully out of form, a similar outcome could ensue, and that would hardly benefit either side greatly.


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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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Velez SarsfieldVelez Sarsfield20116333141939
2HuracanHuracan209922091136
3UnionUnion209652318533
4TalleresTalleres208932420433
5Atletico TucumanTucuman219662121033
6Racing ClubRacing209472820831
7River PlateRiver Plate2079424141030
8Instituto208572519629
9Deportivo Riestra208572222029
10Godoy CruzGodoy Cruz2061042219328
11EstudiantesEstudiantes207762321228
12Platense207761716128
13IndependienteIndependiente2051231613327
14TigreTigre206862523226
15BelgranoBelgrano206862323026
16Rosario CentralRosario216782321225
17GimnasiaGimnasia206771919025
18Boca Juniors206772122-125
19Independiente Rivadavia216781421-725
20San Lorenzo206681618-224
21Argentinos JuniorsArgentinos Jrs206591620-423
22Central CordobaC. Cordoba206592227-523
23LanusLanus205872027-723
24Sarmiento214981521-621
25BanfieldBanfield205691926-721
26Newell's Old BoysNewell's OB205691324-1121
27Defensa y JusticiaDefensa204791729-1219
28Barracas Central2037101024-1416


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