With just four games to go in the Argentine Primera Division first phase, Velez Sarsfield will be hoping to pull further away from the bottom of the table when they take on Godoy Cruz at Estadio Jose Amalfitani on Sunday.
The hosts could record their third consecutive win in this match, which is something they have not managed so far this season, while the visitors have been building some momentum in the final stretch and are out to prolong a four-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.
Match preview
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Velez Sarsfield picked up a very good 1-0 win over fourth-placed Lanus in midweek, snapping up a six-match away losing streak and taking them to 24 points after 23 matches, now seven points above the foot of the table.
Walter Bou picked up his third goal of the season just before the break in the last match, and el Fortin showed tremendous resilience in the second half to hold on to their lead, recording their second clean sheet in as many matches.
While their current league position is four places higher than where they ended last term, they are still four points behind the tally they recorded last season and would certainly have had greater ambitions, as evidenced by the axing of their manager a couple of weeks ago.
After sacking Ricardo Gareca and turning to a familiar face in ex-player Sebastian Mendez, the new boss's impact has been evident and immediate, recording consecutive wins in his first two matches in charge.
Prior to his appointment, Velez Sarsfield had only managed three wins in the season and had not won a match on the road since the beginning of March; however, they are now suddenly eyeing up a possible mid-table finish and could move inside the top 20 with another good result in this one.
Meanwhile, Godoy Cruz have also been enjoying a run of positive results, and after beating Platense 2-1 in their last match, they are now unbeaten in four matches in all competitions, winning three and drawing one.
Salomon Rodriguez opened the scoring in the 18th minute against Platense, grabbing his second goal in three starts, while Enzo Larrosa bagged the winner after Sasha Marcich levelled the match early in the second half.
That win took them above Belgrano into eighth in the league table, and they are now on 36 points after 23 matches, which is already a better return than they managed across the whole of last season.
However, their away record is less impressive, as they come into this match winless in their last five matches on the road, including three draws and two losses, and have only taken 12 from a possible 36 points on their travels.
Daniel Oldra's side have not beaten Velez Sarsfield in their last four attempts, and with their opponents experiencing a new manager bounce, Godoy Cruz are going to need to be at their absolute best to keep their current unbeaten run intact.
Team News
Former Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin is still recovering from a muscular injury and will sit this one out, along with longer-term absentee Santiago Caseres, who will likely remain sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.
Goalkeeper Gaston Gomez is also doubtful as he has not fully recovered from an elbow injury which should mean that Leonardo Burian will continue between the sticks for the hosts.
For Oldra, Gianluca Ferrari and Nahuel Ulariaga are still injured and are likely to be out for the rest of the first phase, both suffering from a ruptured cruciate ligament.
Rodriguez has found some form of late and should lead the line with Hernan Lopez and Roberto Nicolas Fernandez just behind him.
Velez Sarsfield possible starting lineup:
Burian; Gomez, Fernandez, Gianetti; Guidara, Mendez, Florentin, Ortega; Prestianni, Osorio, Bou
Godoy Cruz possible starting lineup:
D Rodriguez; Arce, Barrios, Rasmussen, Galdames; Abrego, Andrada, Fernandez, Lopez, Allende; S Rodriguez
We say: Velez Sarsfield 1-1 Godoy Cruz
While the visitors are unbeaten in their last four matches, the three wins they managed in that time all came on their home patch, and the one away game they played ended in a draw.
They have been the better side this season to date, but the hosts' confidence is at an all-time high, which we feel levels the playing field and could result in them cancelling each other out.
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