Independiente will be looking to put an end to a five-game winless run in the Argentine Primera Division when they host Atletico Tucuman on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the visitors aim to not only maintain their unbeatennleague record, but to also secure a fifth consecutive victory.
Independiente head into the contest in a lowly 25th position after failing to win any of their last five matches.
The last team that they were able to defeat was in fact their weekend opponents, with Independiente claiming a 1-0 Copa Argentina victory over Atletico Tucuman on June 24.
They failed to build upon their cup win, suffering defeats in the following three matches before playing out a goalless draw against Rosario Central.
Independiente’s winless run was extended in midweek after goals from Manuel Duarte and Adonis Frias enabled Defensa y Justicia to claim a 2-0 victory over them.
That result was also their fifth across the opening five league matches, but they will now turn their attention to this contest where they will be looking to claim their third win of the this season.
While Sunday’s hosts have struggled since the previous meeting between the sides in June, the cup defeat was a minor setback for Atletico Tucuman who are unbeaten in the league this term.
A 1-1 stalemate against Godoy Cruz was followed by four consecutive victories, including a 1-0 win over Sarmiento in midweek.
However, the home encounter with Sarmiento looked set to end in a goalless draw, but Ignacio Maestro Puch scored an 86th-minute winner for his side and became Atletico Tucuman’s hero.
Consequentially, second-placed Atletico Tucuman are level on points with league leaders Argentinos Juniors.
Despite losing to Independiente in June, Atletico Tucuman will be confident about picking up a positive result after avoiding defeat in their four away league matches this season.
Independiente vs Atletico Tucuman head to head
The two teams have previously met on 17 occasions across all competitions, where Independiente have claimed six victories while Tucuman have won nine, and they have drawn twice. Independiente have scored 18 goals and conceded 23. In their last five meetings, they have claimed two victories each while drawing once.
Independiente 1-0 Atletico Tucuman 30/10/20
Atletico Tucuman 1-1 Independiente 06/11/20
Independiente 0-1 Atletico Tucuman 02/05/21
Atletico Tucuman 2-0 Independiente 25/08/21
Atletico Tucuman 0-1 Independiente 24/06/22
Independiente latest home form
Independiente have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just two of their five most recent matches. They drew 0-0 with Rosario Central in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded six.
Independiente 0-2 Ceara 26/05/22
Independiente 1-0 Talleres de Cordoba 11/06/22
Independiente 2-1 Estudiantes 21/06/22
Independiente 1-3 Platense 05/07/22
Independiente 0-0 Rosario Central 16/07/22
Independiente latest away form
Independiente have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having lost each of their three most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Defensa y Justicia in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded eight.
Argentinos Juniors 2-1 Independiente 17/06/22
Atletico Tucuman 0-1 Independiente 24/06/22
Patronato 3-1 Independiente 27/06/22
Racing Club 1-0 Independiente 10/07/22
Defensa y Justicia 2-1 Independiente 21/07/22
Atletico Tucuman latest home form
Atletico Tucuman have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their eight most recent matches. They managed to defeat Sarmiento 1-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded three.
Atletico Tucuman 2-1 Lanus 15/06/22
Atletico Tucuman 0-1 Independiente 24/06/22
Atletico Tucuman 1-1 Godoy Cruz 28/06/22
Atletico Tucuman 2-0 Gimnasia La Plata 11/07/22
Atletico Tucuman 1-0 Sarmiento 20/07/22
Atletico Tucuman latest away form
Atletico Tucuman have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their eight most recent matches. They managed to defeat Aldosivi 1-0 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored three goals and conceded one.
Banfield 1-1 Atletico Tucuman 10/05/22
River Plate 0-0 Atletico Tucuman 12/06/22
Huracan 0-0 Atletico Tucuman 19/06/22
Velez Sarsfield 0-1 Atletico Tucuman 03/07/22
Aldosivi 0-1 Atletico Tucuman 16/07/22
Independiente news
Independiente will take to the pitch without the services of Leandro Benegas, who has missed the last three matches due to a thigh injury.
Lucas Gonzalez is likely to be presented with a starting place for this contest after featuring as a second-half substitute in midweek, with Leandro Fernandez leading the line.
Atletico Tucuman news
Marcelo Ortiz is expected to miss out for Atletico Tucuman, with an injury continued to hamper the defender, while Augusto Lotti could return to the starting lineup after dropping out in midweek.
Ignacio Maestro Puch scored the winner on Wednesday, and he could be rewarded for his efforts with a place in the starting lineup.
Prediction and Odds
Despite Independiente winning in the most recent meeting between the two sides, they have continued to struggle in the league this season.
Meanwhile, Atletico Tucuman have faired on well this term and we think that they will maintain their unbeaten league record by picking up all three points on Sunday.
Odds: 1 2.34 X 2.05 2 1.89
Probable outcomes
Independiente 0-1 Atletico Tucuman
Independiente 0-2 Atletico Tucuman
Independiente 1-2 Atletico Tucuman
Independiente 1-3 Atletico Tucuman
Independiente 1-1 Atletico Tucuman
