Looking to end a three-game winless run, Sarmiento welcome Defensa y Justicia to the Estadio Eva Peron on Friday in round eight of the 2022 Argentine Primera Division.

Meanwhile, the away side make the journey to Junin in search of a third victory on the bounce having turned a corner in recent weeks.

Match preview

Defensa y Justicia picked up their first league win of the season at the seventh time of asking as they saw off the threat of Aldosivi in a 3-2 triumph on Monday.

Trailing 2-0 by half time, Sebastian Beccacece's men came out roaring in the second half where goals from Lucas Albertengo, Tomas Galvan and Nicolas Tripichio turned the game on its head.

El Halcon have now moved up to 21st in the league table and will be seeking to string together a good run of results in the coming weeks.

Next up is the challenge of an opposing side who have emerged victorious in four of the last five meetings between the teams stretching back to 2015.

Having recently ended a run of six away games without a win, Friday's visitors now set out to record consecutive triumphs on the road for the first time since April.

Off the back of two straight draws, Sarmiento fell to a 1-0 defeat against Rosario Central at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito on Saturday.

Mario Sciacqua's men had their backs against the wall for the majority of the contest, and the pressure eventually paid off in the 77th minute when Facundo Buonanotte opened the scoring.

As a result, the Verdolaga have slipped down to 18th in the standings, three places and one point above their next opponents ahead of the clash.

With seven points amassed from the last nine available on home turf, Friday's hosts will back themselves to get the job done and give their fans reason to cheer come the full-time whistle.

Team News

Sarmiento's Lucas Acosta continues his spell on the sidelines with a torn ligament, and the Argentine is yet to feature since late February.

Thirty-year-old Harrinson Mancilla is also expected not to play any part for the home side due to a muscle injury which has seen him miss the last two games.

Franco Quinteros is suspended for Friday's match after receiving his marching orders for violent conduct against Rosario Central last time out.

Adonis Frias is a guaranteed absentee for Defensa y Justicia in this one, with the defender yet to fully recuperate from a knee problem.

Meanwhile, Juan Rodriguez is a doubt for the visitors following a short-lived outing against Aldosivi where he was hauled off with a first-half injury.

Sarmiento possible starting lineup:
Meza; Guanini, Rasmussen, Sauro, Bettini; Brea, Mendez, Castro, Arismendi; Lopez, Torres

Defensa y Justicia possible starting lineup:
Unsain; Colombo, Rodriguez, Cardona, Soto; Tripichio, Gutierrez; Dominguez, Albertengo, Togni; Fernandez

We say: Sarmiento 2-1 Defensa y Justicia

There is little to choose between the sides, and the game could easily swing either way. However, Sarmiento have been solid on their own patch of late, and coupled with their impressive record in this fixture, we are tipping them to scrape a narrow win in the end.

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