Colon have an opportunity to surpass Godoy Cruz in the Argentine Primera Division table with a victory on Saturday at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza.
Expresso are two points above Colon in the standings, winning both of their home fixtures in the second phase, while the club from Santa Fe are winless in 11 straight road matches in all competitions.
Match preview
Some dogged determination and a never-say-die attitude has put Godoy back in the hunt for a place in the Copa Sudamericana group stage next season.
Tomba ended the month of June by earning four points in their final two games, despite conceding first in each of those contests, picking up their first road point in this phase, when they drew Atletico Tucuman 1-1 on Monday.
Co-managers Sergio Gomez and Favio Orsi have them one win away from matching their total victories from the opening phase of this competition, thanks to their robust backline, who have conceded a goal or fewer in four of their five fixtures in the second round.
Godoy are tough to break down at home on the back end, conceding just once in their last four encounters in all competitions.
They have not faced Colon in Mendonza since 2018, but Tomba will be pleased to know that this game will take place at home, where they have outscored Sabalero 6-2 in their last two fixtures.
After a solid beginning to their second-round campaign, Julio Cesar Falcioni has seen his team hit a rough patch, failing to score in their last two league fixtures, losing to Lanus (1-0) and Huracan (1-0).
In the opening phase, they were among the more potent attacking sides, netting the third-most goals in their group (18), though Colon have not found that same kind of quality so far in this round, tallying once or fewer in four of their five encounters.
Sabale have held a second-half advantage in three of their encounters in this phase, but have also let four points slip through their fingers, drawing Atletico Tucuman (1-1) and Union (2-2).
While they do not allow you a lot of space and possess a solid shape defensively, Colon seem to be missing some creativity in the midfield.
When showing solid organisational play, they can put together some excellent build-ups, but we have yet to see that from them consistently in the second phase.
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Team News
Cristian Chavez tallied his first goal of the second round for Godoy on Monday, enabling his side to collect a single point in that encounter.
Juan Andrada earned his first assist, moving into a tie for second on the team alongside Matias Ramirez and Tadeo Allende.
Salomon Rodriguez has scored three goals in his previous two home fixtures and is currently tied for the league lead in that department, while Martin Ojeda has set up three goals, putting him even with Facundo Colidio, Juan Manuel Garcia and Sebastian Villa for first in the Primera Division.
Andrada was the only newcomer to draw into their starting 11 on Monday, as the 27-year-old replaced Nelson Acevedo in the midfield.
Facundo Farias and Ramon Abila have accounted for all of Colon's goals so far in the second phase, each netting twice, while Farias is also tied for the team lead when it comes to assists, as he and Federico Lertora each have one.
Eric Meza, who finished last season tied with current River Plate midfielder Rodrigo Aliendro for first in goals with four for Colon, continues to search for his first in round two.
Andrew Teuten is expected to miss some more time with a head injury, while Luis Miguel Rodriguez assisted on the lone goal scored by Abila in their 1-1 draw on Wednesday in the Copa Libertadores against Talleres Cordoba.
Godoy Cruz possible starting lineup:
D. Rodriguez; Negri, Ortiz, Ferrari, Barrios; Andrada, Lopez; Allende, Bullaude, Ojeda; S. Rodriguez
Colon possible starting lineup:
Chicco; Nardelli, Acevedo, Novillo, Mino; Troncoso; Pierotti, Alvarez, Deboli, Farioli; Farias
We say: Godoy Cruz 1-0 Colon
Godoy seem to look calmer and more compact at home, and we expect them to frustrate a Colon side who struggle with consistency in the attacking third, scoring a goal or fewer in their last eight matches played in all competitions.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
