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

The two teams sit just a single point and place apart in Argentina's top flight, with the hosts one point better off in 15th spot after 23 league outings.

Match preview

Now 23 games into the first phase of the Argentine Primera Division campaign, it has certainly been a mixed season for Platense, who currently sit 15th with 29 points on the board, having picked up eight victories while suffering 10 defeats.

The campaign did start on a relative high, as they amassed 16 points from their opening 10 outings, but the Calamares would then see their form take a sharp dip as they lost four and drew one of the next five matches between mid-April and early May.

After then winning two and losing two in a four-match span, Martin Palermo's men appeared to have refound their groove in June, turning that spell of inconsistency into a run of four victories in six games with back-to-back triumphs, firstly beating Tigre 1-0 before Sasha Marcich and Franco Baldassarra got on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win away at Arsenal Sarandi, but having once again failed to establish consistency, they now head into the weekend on the back of consecutive defeats.

The three-point haul away at Arsenal Sarandi was followed by a home contest against Lanus, in which they fell to a 1-0 defeat as Matias Esquivel netted the only goal 18 minutes from time, before the Calamares most recently travelled to Godoy Cruz and fell short again.

Marcich drew them level early in the second half after Salomon Rodriguez's 17th-minute opener, but Enzo Larrosa would pop up with a decisive goal for the hosts in the final five minutes to deny Platense a share of the spoils, and having now dropped to 15th spot following their two defeats, Palermo's men will be desperate to return to winning ways at the weekend and climb back up the division in the final few games of the first phase.

Their visitors are also vying to bounce back after consecutive defeats in the Argentine Primera Division.

Following a relatively slow start to the season, Sarmiento quickly built on their points tally with an unbeaten run between late April and the beginning of June, starting with a 1-1 draw against Godoy Cruz before recording consecutive victories over Central Cordoba and Union on their travels.

Those victories were then followed by three straight goalless stalemates against Huracan, Gimnasia and Newell's Old Boys, moving them onto 25 points from 19 league outings, but Israel Damonte's side now head into the weekend having seen their form dip again, with their last four matches producing one victory and three defeats.

The lone triumph came in the form of a 4-1 thrashing of Atletico Tucuman, but they would fall short in the next contest away at Boca Juniors, eventually losing 2-0 despite keeping level until the 70th minute, before most recently hosting Talleres on Thursday and again coming away empty-handed, having been unable to come back after Diego Valoyes hit the only goal inside six minutes.

Having now dropped quickly down the division alongside their opponents, Sarmiento will fight to return to winning ways with the chance to leapfrog Sunday's hosts and climb as high as 12th place depending on other results.

Platense Argentine Primera Division form:

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L

W

W

L

L

Sarmiento Argentine Primera Division form:

D

D

L

W

L

L

Team News

Martin Palermo may look to make several changes to his Platense side after their second straight defeat, with Nicolas Servetto likely to come back in from the start and lead the line having netted a team-high tally of six league goals in 23 appearances so far this term.

He should be supported by Ronaldo Martinez and Sasha Marcich from the wings, while the likes of Vicente Taborda and Mauro Quiroga will fight for the final attacking spot.

Captain Nicolas Castro plays a key role in the engine room, having also chipped in with four goals in the league so far this campaign, while Marco Pellegrino and Ignacio Vazquez are both fighting to keep their places in the middle of the back four.

Sarmiento could remain without key forward Luciano Gondou on Sunday, after he missed their meeting with Talleres, having made key contributions of six goals and two assists in 22 Primera Division appearances this season.

They do have other options up front, though, and if he does remain sidelined, Damonte should stick with the pairing of Javier Toledo and Lucas Melano, having each managed four goals and two assists in Argentina's top flight this season.

The front line will likely have support from Sergio Quiroga, while Emiliano Mendez and Jean Rosso will operate more as midfield anchors.

Platense possible starting lineup:

Macagno; Morgantini, Vazquez, Pellegrino, Infante; Castro, Diaz; Martinez, Taborda, Marcich; Servetto

Sarmiento possible starting lineup:

Devecchi; Hernandez, Insaurralde, Sbuttoni; Bettini, Rosso, Mendez, Diaz; Quiroga; Melano, Toledo

We say: Platense 1-1 Sarmiento

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