Godoy Cruz and Defensa y Justicia will go head-to-head in on Sunday at the Estadio Malvinas in round four of the 2022 Argentine Primera Division.
The teams have not had the best of starts to the new season and both of them will be looking to get up and running with all three points in this one.
Match preview
Godoy Cruz were beaten on the road for the third game running following a 1-0 loss against Rosario Central on Thursday at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito.
The game was level heading into its final 10 minutes after which a late penalty from Gaspar Servio put Rodolfo Diego Flores's men to the sword.
With three points from as many games this term, El Bodeguero currently sit 19th in the league table and are in need of a pick-me-up.
Coming up next is the challenge of an opposing side who have only lost one of the last eight meetings between the teams dating back to 2014.
However, that solitary loss did come in the most recent encounter back in September, when Monday's hosts claimed a 2-1 victory over the away side.
Defensa y Justicia played out a third consecutive share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw against Huracan at the Estadio Norberto Tito Tomaghello on Wednesday.
Sebastian Beccacece's men opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Carlos Rotondi, but they were pegged back midway through the first half by Franco Cristaldo.
El Halcon are 21st in the league table as it stands, level on points with their next opponents heading into Monday's encounter in Mendoza.
Having failed to win any of their last four away games across all competitions, the Buenos Aires-based outfit set out to record a rare victory on the road and kickstart their league campaign.
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Team News
Adonis Frias is a huge doubt for this one after he was hauled off with an injury just 12 minutes into Defensa's last outing versus Huracan.
Meanwhile, 28-year-old Francisco Pizzini is available to feature once again having served a one-game ban in the aforementioned game.
Godoy's Nestor Breitenbruch is ineligible to take part as he is suspended off the back of his sending off against Rosario.
The hosts will also be without the services of defender Leonel Gonzalez, who is set to miss a fourth match through a muscle problem.
Godoy Cruz possible starting lineup:
Rodriguez; Meli, Ortiz, Ferrari, Barrios, Lopez; Bullaude, Acevedo, Abrego; Rodriguez, Ojeda
Defensa y Justicia possible starting lineup:
Unsain; Tripichio, Cardona, Colombo, Soto; Loaiza, Gutierrez; Duarte, Bou, Rotondi; Fernandez
We say: Godoy Cruz 1-0 Defensa y Justicia
As the league table suggests, there is little separating the teams ahead of this one, and we are expecting a tight affair. That said, we also tip the home side to narrowly edge their visitors and nick all three points in the end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Adepoju Marvellous
