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Argentine Primera Division | Gameweek 4
Jun 19, 2022 at 10pm UK
Estadio 15 de Abril

Union
1 - 5
River Plate

Peralta (79')
Machuca (41'), Luna Diale (66')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Romero (16'), Fernandez (59'), Alvarez (73', 90+5'), Palavecino (87')
de la Cruz (43'), Perez (45+1'), Herrera (54')

Preview: Union vs. River Plate - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Argentine Primera Division clash between Union and River Plate, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Fresh off the back of picking up their first win of the season, Union welcome River Plate to the Estadio 15 de Abril in round four of the Primera Division on Sunday.

Los Millonarios, on the other hand, failed to win their opening three outings for the first time since 2018 and will be looking to end this poor run.


Match preview

Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring for River Plate on April 14, 2022© Reuters

Union got the Primera Division campaign up and running last Wednesday when they claimed a 2-1 victory over Barracas Central at the Estadio Islas Malvinas.

In an action-packed contest, Jonathan Alvez and Emanuel Britez scored first-half goals to put the visitors in a comfortable lead before Fernando Valenzuela pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 69th minute.

Prior to that, Gustavo Munua's men suffered a 2-1 defeat against Tigre in their season opener on June 5 before playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Colon de Santa one week later.

While Union will look to make it two wins from two for the first time since April, they have struggled to get going on home turf, where they have lost three and drawn one of their last five games.

River Plate's Julian Alvarez celebrates scoring their first goal against Boca Juniors on October 3, 2021© Reuters

Elsewhere, River Plate failed to find their feet in the Primera Division as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Colon de Santa last Wednesday.

Despite seeing just 33% of the ball possession and being on the back foot for most of the game, former Boca Juniors man Ramon Abila scored against the run of play in the 72nd minute to hand the hosts all three points.

River Plate have now failed to win any of their opening three games in the league after playing out goalless draws against Defensa y Justicia and Atletico Tucuman in their first two outings.

This poor start has been owing to their toothless display at the attacking end of the pitch as Marcelo Gallardo's side have now failed to score in three straight games for the first time since August 2018, when they went four matches without finding the target.

However, Los Millonarios will fancy their chances of ending this drip spell as they go up against an opposing side who they are unbeaten against in eight of the last 10 meetings between the sides, claiming five wins and three draws in that time.

Union Argentine Primera Division form:
  • L
  • D
  • W

Union form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W

River Plate Argentine Primera Division form:
  • D
  • D
  • L

River Plate form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • L


Team News

River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo during the match on April 6, 2022© Reuters

Union will take to the pitch without the services of Argentine defender Brian Blasi, who has been sidelined since last April through a muscle problem.

He is joined on the club's injury table by the duo of Juan Nardoni and Diego Polenta, who both missed the trip to Barracas Central on Wednesday.

With his strike in the aforementioned game, Alves has now scored in four successive games and the Uruguayan forward will certainly be one to keep an eye on.

As for River Plate, Gallardo will be unable to call upon Colombian midfielder Juan Quintero, who has been out of action since last April through a hamstring problem.

Veteran defender Milton Casco is also out of contention for the visitors as the 34-year-old is set to sit out his fourth straight game through a calf issue.

Other names on the club's injury table include Matias Suarez (muscle), Robert Rojas (leg), Franco Paredes (ACL) and Felipe Pena Biafore, who is yet to make an appearance for River Plate this year.

Union possible starting lineup:
Mele; Britez, Calderon, Polenta, Corvalan; Roldan, Nardoni; Vera, Diale, Zenon; Alvez

River Plate possible starting lineup:
Armani; Herrera, Maidana, Gonzalez, Gomez; Perez, Fernandez, Palavecino; Barco, Simon, Alvarez


SM words green background

We say: Union 1-1 River Plate

Looking at past results between the sides, we anticipate a thrilling contest with plenty of goalmouth action. While Union will be looking to build on Wednesday's victory, we predict the visitors will do just enough to force a share of the spoils.


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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Written by
Joshua Ojele

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Game History

How you voted: Union vs River Plate

Union
28.6%
Draw
28.6%
River Plate
42.9%
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Velez SarsfieldVelez Sarsfield26139436162048
2TalleresTalleres2613943324948
3Racing ClubRacing27144942301246
4HuracanHuracan261210428161246
5River PlateRiver Plate271110638211743
6Boca Juniors2711973023742
7IndependienteIndependiente2791352517840
8UnionUnion2611692726139
9Atletico TucumanTucuman2610792627-137
10Independiente Rivadavia2610792325-237
11EstudiantesEstudiantes2781273634236
12Instituto27106113231136
13Platense269981918136
14LanusLanus2781272831-336
15Godoy CruzGodoy Cruz2781183128335
16BelgranoBelgrano2781183332135
17Deportivo Riestra2681082627-134
18TigreTigre2781092730-334
19GimnasiaGimnasia2688102122-132
20Rosario CentralRosario2788112730-332
21Central CordobaC. Cordoba2687112934-531
22Defensa y JusticiaDefensa2671092733-631
23Argentinos JuniorsArgentinos Jrs2786132228-630
24San Lorenzo2778122026-629
25Sarmiento27511111828-1026
26Newell's Old BoysNewell's OB2667131934-1525
27BanfieldBanfield2759132236-1424
28Barracas Central27411121533-1823


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