Preview: Boca Juniors vs. Lanus - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors have taken seven points from their last three league games to move up to sixth in the league.

Match preview

Boca Juniors, on the other hand, are enduring a difficult season after claiming their record-extending 35th Argentine Primera Division title last season.

Azul y Oro's most recent success was their 11th title triumph since the turn of the century, and they would have been hoping to move to a tally which doubles their closest competitor (Racing Club with 18) at the end of the current campaign.

However, that prospect appears unlikely given that they trail leaders River Plate by 14 points, although they will expect to make up some of that ground during the second stage of the competition.

Of course, even if they do fall short in their domestic division this time around, Jorge Almiron's side still have a huge opportunity to win the club's first Copa Libertadores since 2007 having qualified for the knockout stages with one match to spare in the group stage.

In the meantime, though, the 51-year-old will be determined to see his current crop of players players defeat his former side on Saturday, after leading Lanus on two separate occasions during his managerial career.

Lanus, of course, have a much more modest historical presence than their forthcoming opponents, although they have won the Argentine Primera Division on two occasions in more recent years.

Indeed, after becoming the first maiden Argentinian champions since 1984 when lifting the title in 2008, Granate went onto prove that it was no fluke by doubling their success eight years later.

Lanus also triumphed in the Copa Sudamerica - South America's secondary continental competition - in 2013, although they missed out on competing on an international level after only finishing 10th in their domestic division last time out.

As such, their current position of sixth in the table represents a major improvement under Frank Kudelka's tutelage, but there is a long way of the campaign to go and they could find themselves sliding down a few places should they fall to a defeat this weekend.

Boca Juniors Argentine Primera Division form:

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Boca Juniors form (all competitions):

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Lanus Argentine Primera Division form:

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Team News

Boca Juniors will be without Marcelo Weigandt due to suspension after his dismissal against Arsenal Sarandi, while Martin Payero, Exequiel Zeballos and former Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo are all still injured.

After facing Colo-Colo in the Copa Libertadores during the week, Almiron may feel compelled to make a few changes in order to freshen his side up, with Luis Advincula potentially filling in at right-back.

Lanus, meanwhile, will travel without Braian Aguirre and Jose Canale due to ankle and arm issues respectively.

Kudelka may look to name the same starting XI that defeated Atletico Tucuman 2-1 in their last league match, with Pedro de la Vega set to be full of confidence after levelling the scoring on his side's way to victory.

Boca Juniors possible starting lineup:

Romero; Advincula, Valdez, Figal, Fabra; Briasco, Varela, Medina, Villa; Merentiel, Benedetto

Lanus possible starting lineup:

Acosta; Caceres, Aguilar, Lema, Barreto; Loaiza, Belmonte, Esquivel; Orozco, Diaz, Vega

We say: Boca Juniors 2-1 Lanus

Although Lanus head into this match in better form, we expect Boca Juniors to record a win for the fourth time in their last five league games this weekend.

The hosts have made a disappointing defence of their title so far this season, but they still have time to turn things around, and had looked capable of doing so before Weigandt's red card cost them in their last league match.

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