Preview: Union vs. Independiente
Independiente set out to pick up back-to-back wins for the first time since the turn of the year when they take on Union at the Estadio 15 de Abril on Saturday.
Having failed to win any of the last five meetings between the sides, Sebastian Mendez’s men will head into the weekend looking to get one over the visitors.
Union continue to struggle for results on home turf as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Lanus when the sides squared off at the Estadio 15 de Abril last Sunday.
Following a drab first half, Imanol Machuca broke the deadlock shortly after the hour mark, but former Union man Franco Troyansky struck eight minutes later to force a share of the spoils.
Prior to that, Mendez’s men saw their run of three consecutive victories come to an end on June 12 when they played out a 1-1 draw with Newell’s Old Boys at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa.
With Sunday’s result, Union have now failed to win six of their last seven home games across all competitions, claiming two draws and losing four, including a penalty-shootout defeat against Almagro in the Copa Argentina on May 10.
The Tatengue have picked up four wins, eight draws and lost eight of their 20 matches so far to collect 20 points and sit 24th in the Primera Division table, one point and two places below Saturday’s visitors.
Independiente, on the other hand, returned to winning ways last time out when they edged out 10-man Sarmiento 2-0 at the Estadio Libertadores de America.
In a game where Guido Mainero received his marching orders, Argentine forward Matias Gimenez Rojas turned in a performance of the highest quality as he scored in both halves to hand the home side a comfortable victory.
Prior to that, Ricardo Zielinski’s men were on a run of three consecutive games without a win, suffering defeats to Arsenal de Sarandi and Godoy Cruz on either side of a 1-1 draw with Lanus on May 28.
While Independiente will be looking to pick up successive league wins for the first time since last September, they have struggled for results on the road, where they have managed just one league win this season and are currently on a nine-match run.
However, El Rojo will fancy their chances of ending this poor run on Saturday as they take on a Union side who currently hold the division’s worst home record, having picked up nine points from nine home games this season.
Independiente are also on a five-match unbeaten streak against Saturday’s hosts and have lost just one of their last 14 meetings, claiming five wins and eight draws since November 2011.
Union Argentine Primera Division form:
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Independiente Argentine Primera Division form:
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