Preview: Defensa y Justicia vs. Velez Sarsfield - prediction, team news, lineups

Winless in their opening four games, the hosts currently sit 26th in a tight bottom half, while their visitors are only a point better off after a first victory last time out.

Match preview

Following an impressive campaign in the first phase of the Argentinian top-flight season, in which they finished third in their group before losing in the quarter-finals to Boca Juniors, Defensa y Justicia have found life in the second phase much tougher.

They find themselves without a victory from the opening four games, having firstly earned a commendable point from a goalless stalemate against giants River Plate.

After 1-1 draws with Lanus and Huracan, Sebastian Beccacece's side travelled to Godoy Cruz in search of a first win last time out, but they fell short and left empty-handed.

Francisco Pizzini put the Halcon ahead in the 13th minute, but Guillermo Ortiz quickly levelled the game before Salomon Rodriguez scored to seal all three points for their hosts.

Now sitting 26th in the 28-team division as a result of their slow start, but with the chance to quickly climb towards the top half given how tight the division is at this early stage, Beccacece's men will aim to put their first three-point haul of the regular campaign on the board on Saturday.

They welcome a Velez Sarsfield side aiming to build on a first victory of their own last time out, after also having a tough start.

El Fortin failed to qualify for the knockout stage in their first-phase group, although their performances in the Copa Libertadores were a shining light, with Julio Vaccari's men awaiting their round-of-16 tie with River Plate after finishing second in their group on the continent.

They began the main Argentine Primera Division season with a draw away at Patronato, before a Copa Argentina round-of-32 win was followed by consecutive league defeats at the hands of Platense and Racing Club.

As a result, El Fortin headed into Monday's contest against Rosario Central with just one point to their name from three attempts, but they were able to put a first notch in their wins column as Luca Orellano and Damian Fernandez hit sixth and 83rd-minute goals respectively in a 2-0 triumph.

Having quickly climbed to 19th spot thanks to that win, Velez Sarsfield will look to continue scaling the division with a second victory on the bounce at the weekend.

Defensa y Justicia Argentine Primera Division form:

Defensa y Justicia form (all competitions):

Velez Sarsfield Argentine Primera Division form:

Velez Sarsfield form (all competitions):

Team News

Defensa y Justicia duo Adonis Frias and Carlos Rotondi are both reportedly nearing exits, and they may not feature on Saturday as a result.

Similarly, top scorer Miguel Merentiel has already agreed to join Palmeiras and will be left out of the squad until his departure in July, leaving plenty of responsibility on Francisco Pizzini, who returned from a suspension for the Godoy Cruz game last time out.

The winger got on the scoresheet in that contest, and he should again support striker Lucas Albertengo.

After securing their first victory last time out, Velez Sarsfield may look to deploy an unchanged starting XI on Saturday.

Veteran former Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua will be pushing for place in the side but may again have to settle for a spot on the bench after El Fortin's clean sheet against Rosario Central.

Luca Orellano remains an attacking threat, with the winger opening the scoring early in that game, while star man Lucas Janson has netted 10 goals in all competitions from the left flank this term.

Defensa y Justicia possible starting lineup:

Unsain; Tripichio, Colombo, Cardona, Soto; Gutierrez, Hachen; Pizzini, Bou, Fernandez; Albertengo

Velez Sarsfield possible starting lineup:

Hoyos; Jara, Fernandez, Gomez, Ortega; Orellano, Garayalde, Perrone, Janson; Osorio, Pratto

We say: Defensa y Justicia 0-2 Velez Sarsfield

Defensa y Justicia have certainly struggled so are and things look to only be getting worse.

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