Preview: Independiente vs. Sarmiento - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts find themselves one point off the bottom of the Argentine Primera Division table, while the visitors occupy 13th place following three consecutive goalless draws.

Match preview

It would not be unfair to say that Independiente have endured a poor campaign up to now, as Ricardo Zielinski's men have managed to win just three of their 19 league matches, recording nine draws and seven losses.

Not team has picked up fewer Primera Division victories than Independiente this season, while only one side has registered more draws, so the Red Devils must start winning in order to steer clear of relegation danger.

After defeating Talleres on the opening day of the campaign back in January, Independiente went 12 league matches without tasting victory, recording seven draws and five defeats while scoring just eight goals.

Although Independiente have upped their game in recent times - registering two wins, two draws and two losses since the lengthy winless run - the Red Devils remain one point above bottom club Arsenal Sarandi.

Independiente enter Friday's clash on the back of a 2-1 defeat at Godoy Cruz, meaning that Zielinski's men have taken a solitary point from their previous three outings, with a loss to Arsenal preceding a draw against Lanus.

On the flip side, Sarmiento head to the Estadio Libertadores de America on the back of three successive goalless draws, having played out stalemates with Huracan, Gimnasia and Newell's Old Boys in recent weeks.

It is worth noting, however, that Sarmiento's unbeaten run now stands at six matches, as Israel Damonte's men have picked up two wins and four draws since their last loss, which came at Lanus back in April.

When you look at the bigger picture, the Verdolaga have lost just two of their previous 11 Primera Division encounters, securing four wins and five draws to remain seven points clear of struggling Independiente.

Better still, only three teams - table-topping River Plate, third-placed San Lorenzo and Defensa y Justicia - have conceded fewer goals than Sarmiento's 15, while Damonte's men have kept 10 clean sheets in 19 league outings this term.

Independiente Argentine Primera Division form:

W

D

W

L

D

L

Sarmiento Argentine Primera Division form:

D

W

W

D

D

D

Team News

Independiente are still without long-term absentees Tomas Pozzo (ACL) and Rodrigo Marquez (ACL), while Ivan Marcone (muscle) and Augustin Mulet (thigh) are also out injured.

Martin Cauteruccio and Matias Gimenez Rojas look set to continue their attacking partnership on Friday, with Chaco Martinez and Nicolas Vallejo operating on the wings for the hosts.

Sarmiento have multiple injury absentees of their own, as Federico Paradela, Guido Mainero, Yair Arismendi and Jose Mauri are all sidelined due to ligament damage.

Having kept five consecutive clean sheets, Sebastian Meza will continue between the sticks for the visitors, with Manuel Garcia, Alejandro Donatti and Juan Manuel Insaurralde occupying the centre-back roles in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Javier Toledo is expected to lead the line for Sarmiento, while Lisandro Lopez and Luciano Gondou will offer attacking support to the lone striker.

Independiente possible starting lineup:

Rey; Gomez, Laso, Baez, Costa; Vallejo, Ortiz, Sarrafiore, Martinez; Rojas, Cauteruccio

Sarmiento possible starting lineup:

Meza; Garcia, Donatti, Insaurralde; Bettini, Mendez, Rojas, Quinteros; Lopez, Gondou; Toledo

We say: Independiente 0-1 Sarmiento

Given that 12 of Sarmiento's last 13 matches have produced fewer than three goals, Friday's clash looks destined to be a low-scoring affair, especially when you consider that Damonte's men have not conceded a goal in five outings.

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