Preview: Boca Juniors vs. Sarmiento - prediction, team news, lineups

Boca Juniors return to action in the Argentine Primera Division when they go head to head with Sarmiento at the Alberto Jose Armando Stadium on Sunday night.

Israel Damonte's men will head into the game aiming to get one over the hosts, having failed to win any of the last five meetings between the sides since July 2015.

Match preview

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Boca Juniors wrapped up an impressive Copa Libertadores group-stage run on Thursday as they picked up a 4-0 victory over Venezuelan outfit Monagas on home turf.

In a game where both sides finished with 10 men, goals from Marcelo Weigandt, Valentin Barco and a second-half brace from substitute Luis Vazquez condemned the visitors to a last-placed finish in Group F.

Jorge Almiron's side will now be making a sixth straight appearance in the Copa Libertadores knockout stages as they finished top of the group with a five-point cushion over runners-up Deportivo Pereira.

However, Boca Juniors now turn their attention to the Primera Division, where they are currently on a three-match winless run, claiming one draw and losing twice, including last Friday's 4-0 thrashing against Godoy Cruz.

The Azul y Oro's last league victory came on May 28, when they narrowly edged out Tigre 1-0 at home courtesy of a 13th-minute effort from Palmeiras loanee Miguel Merentiel.

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Sarmiento, on the other hand, returned to winning ways in the Primera Division as they thrashed Atletico Tacuman 4-1 when the sides squared off at the Estadio Eva Peron last Monday.

In a one-sided affair, goals from Lucas Melanie, Gabriel Diaz and a brace from 29-year-old midfielder Sergio Quiroga helped the hosts pick up their seventh victory of the season.

Prior to that, the Verdolaga saw their six-match unbeaten run come to an end on June 10 as they were beaten 2-0 by Independiente courtesy of goals in either half from Matias Gimenez Rojas.

With 28 points from 21 matches, Damonte's men are currently 13th in the Argentine Primera Division standings, only above this weekend's hosts on goal difference.

While Sarmiento will be looking to pick up two back-to-back wins for just the second time since September, they have failed to beat Boca Juniors in their last five attempts, losing four and claiming one draw since July 2015.

Team News

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Boca Juniors will be without several key players down the spine of the team as the likes of Luca Langoni (muscle), Luis Advincula (knee) and former Manchester United man Marcos Rojo (muscle) all continue their spells on the sidelines.

Gonzalo Morales has been out of action since picking up a hamstring injury in February, while Exequiel Zeballos suffered a knee injury in April's game against Estudiantes.

Bruno Valdez picked up a red card in Thursday's Copa Libertadores victory over Monagas but should retain his spot in the XI as his suspension does not apply to domestic competitions.

Vazquez turned in a superb cameo in the aforementioned game and could be rewarded with a starting role, while Oscar Romero and Dario Benedetto should return to the XI.

Sarmiento, on the other hand, will take to the pitch without the Argentine duo of Federico Paradela and Yair Arismendi, who are both recuperating from ruptured cruciate ligaments.

They are joined on the Verdolaga injury table by Italian midfielder Jose Mauri, who has been sidelined since picking up a severe injury in February's game against Barracas Central.

Boca Juniors possible starting lineup:

Romero; Weigandt, Roncaglia, Figal, Barco; Medina, Fernandez, Varela; Romero, Benedetto, Payero

Sarmiento possible starting lineup:

Meza; Garcia, Insaurralde, Sbuttoni; Bettini, Rosso, Mendez, Quiroga, Diaz; Gondou, Melano

We say: Boca Juniors 2-0 Sarmiento

While Boca Juniors have struggled to get going in the league, they will be backing themselves to see off a Sarmiento side who have failed to win their last five encounters. We predict that Almiron's men will pick up from where they dropped off against Monagas and claim all three points in front of their home supporters.

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