Independientevs.Banfield

The hosts have managed just three points from their four outings thus far, while the visitors leapfrogged them with a first triumph of their own at the fourth time of asking last time out.

Match preview

Independiente return to the Estadio Libertadores de America on Thursday aiming to end a disappointing start to their Argentine Primera Division campaign, having already endured a tough domestic term in the preceding Copa de la Liga Profesional.

El Rojo missed out on the quarter-finals of the first phase of the season, having finished sixth in Zone A, earning 23 points from their 14 games and finishing two short of the top four.

Turning their focus to the league format in mid-May, after getting past Juventud Unida to reach the Copa Argentina round of 16, the Avellaneda endured a losing start at the hands of Talleres, having fallen to a 3-1 defeat on home turf, before a goalless draw with Platense spelled the end of Carlos Tevez's stint as manager.

They have played out further consecutive draws since his departure, too, firstly sharing points at home to Velez Sarsfield, as Gabriel Avalos levelled the game at a goal apiece on the hour mark, before most recently visiting fellow winless outfit Defensa y Justicia on Tuesday and leaving with another point from a goalless stalemate.

Now sat 22nd after four games in the Primera Division and 15th in the aggregate table, Independiente will bid to kickstart their campaign and put a first win of the league phase on the board while a search for Tevez's permanent successor continues.

Their visitors, meanwhile, travel aiming to make it back-to-back wins after their own slow start to the domestic campaign.

Like Thursday's hosts, Banfield failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Copa de la Liga Profesional in the first phase of the season, finishing eighth in Zone A with a six-point gap up to Independiente and an eight-point gap to the top four, before collecting just a single point from their first three Primera Division outings.

That draw came against Huracan, either side of away defeats at the hands of Union and Gimnasia, and after getting past Independiente Rivadavia in the Copa Argentina round of 32, El Taladro were able to put a first three-point haul of this phase on the board last Wednesday.

Julio Falcioni's side hosted Newell's Old Boys and the game looked set to end goalless, only for Milton Gimenez to break the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 89th minute before netting his and his side's second to wrap up the victory in injury time.

Having moved ahead of Thursday's hosts in the league table with that win, and within five points in the aggregate table with a seven-point gap up to the Copa Sudamericana spots, Banfield will set out to build on last week's important triumph and put a winning run together in the coming weeks to strengthen their standing.

Independiente Argentine Primera Division form:

W

D

L

D

D

D

Banfield Argentine Primera Division form:

L

W

L

D

L

W

Team News

Independiente are unable to call on key defender Mauricio Isla on Thursday, as he is away on international duty for Chile, while midfielders Ivan Marcano and Lucas Gonzalez and attacker Matias Gimenez remain sidelined by injuries.

Gabriel Avalos should continue to lead the line, with no player in the squad having managed more than two goals across all competitions so far this season, while Santiago Lopez will hope to keep his place alongside the Paraguayan up top.

Elsehwere, in the absence of Marcano and Gonzalez, veteran Federico Mancuello and 19-year-old David Martinez should continue their partnership in the midfield, while Damian Perez, Joaquin Laso and Juan Fedorco will again line up in a back three after their clean sheet last time out.

Banfield could deploy an unchanged starting XI from last week's win over Newell's Old Boys, with Alexis Maldonado, Alejandro Cabrera, Geronimo Rivera, Ezequiel Bonifacio and Jesus Soraire sidelined by injuries.

Milton Gimenez is bound to again spearhead the attack, having moved on to 10 goals for the season with his decisive late brace in their victory, with Bruno Sepulveda again set to join him up front in their 5-3-2 setup.

Cristian Nunez will likely continue in his role at the base of the midfield in front of the back five, allowing Ignacio Rodriguez and Matias Gonzalez to support the strike force.

Independiente possible starting lineup:

Rey; Fedorco, Laso, Perez; Salle, Martinez, Mancuello, Tarzia; Millan; Avalos, Lopez

Banfield possible starting lineup:

Sanguinetti; Alvarez, Maciel, Aranda, Quiros, Insua; Rodriguez, Nunez, Gonzalez; Gimenez, Sepulveda

We say: Independiente 1-1 Banfield

Independiente head into Thursday's contest on home turf desperate for a first win of the second phase of their season, while the visitors will travel with renewed confidence from their triumph last time out.

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