Godoy Cruz play host to Defensa y Justicia at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas for their Argentine Primera Division clash on Friday.
While the hosts will endeavour to secure their sixth home victory in a row, the visitors are seeking to win back-to-back away games for the fourth time this season.
Match preview
Godoy Cruz extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to five matches when they played out a 1-1 draw with Velez Sarsfield last weekend.
After Lautaro Giannetti broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, Thomas Galdames restored parity for Godoy on the 74-minute mark, just a minute after unused substitute Braian Salvareschi was shown a straight red card following an altercation between both benches.
Nevertheless, the Mendoza-based outfit held on for a point in the closing stages and they remain seventh in the Primera Division first-phase standings, three points behind Friday's opponents Defensa y Justicia in fifth spot.
Daniel Oldra's men will welcome a return to home soil where they have put together an impressive 10-game unbeaten run, winning each of their last five matches by an aggregate score of 14-3.
Godoy have won their last two meetings with Defensa by a 2-1 scoreline, including their most recent clash at home in October 2022, and they know that a victory on Friday will see them move level on points with the Buenos Aires-based club – a victory by four or more goals would be required to leapfrog them on goal difference, though.
As for Defensa, they managed to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw at home against Lanus on Monday to extend their unbeaten run in all tournaments to four games.
Julio Vaccari's side were trailing 2-0 heading into the final 15 minutes before an own goal from Lautaro Morales and an 84th-minute equaliser from Nazareno Colombo ensured that the spoils were shared in the Argentine capital.
With just three games remaining in the Primera Division first phase, Defensa remain in the hunt for a respectable top-three finish, and a win on Friday will indeed see them climb above San Lorenzo into third place.
The Hawk have had mixed fortunes on their travels to Godoy, winning one, losing one and drawing two of their previous four visits to Mendoza, while they enter Friday's fixture having lost two of their last three away games.
Team News
Godoy top scorer Tadeo Allende, who has six strikes to his name, is ruled out for the rest of the campaign after recently undergoing knee surgery.
The hosts will also be without Gianluca Ferrari and Nahuel Ulariaga as they continue to recover from ligament injuries, while Salvareschi is suspended.
The absence of Allende will likely see Salomon Rodriguez lead the line, and support could be provided in attack by wingers Luciano Cingolani and Tomas Conechny.
As for Defensa, Vaccari may consider freshening up his starting lineup with a couple of changes following Monday's draw with Lanus.
Nicolas Tripichio will be pushing to start in centre-midfield ahead of either Kevin Gutierrez or Rodrigo Bogarin, while Santiago Solari could replace Gabriel Alanis on the right wing.
Arguably the first name on the teamsheet will be star striker Nicolas Fernandez, who has scored 19 goals in 30 games across all competitions so far this season, including 12 strikes in 23 top-flight matches.
Godoy Cruz possible starting lineup:
D. Rodriguez; Arce, Barrios, Rasmussen, Galdames; Abrego, Leyes; Cingolani, Fernandez, Conechny; S. Rodriguez
Defensa y Justicia possible starting lineup:
Bologna; Sant'Anna, Colomba, Cardona, Soto; Lopez, Gutierrez, Tripichio; Solari, Fernandez, Togni
We say: Godoy Cruz 2-1 Defensa y Justicia
A closely-fought contest is set to be played out on Friday, but considering Godoy's strong home form and recent record against Defensa, we believe that the hosts will come out on top and claim a narrow victory.
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