Preview: Huracan vs. Independiente Rivadavia

Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Argentine Primera Division clash between Huracan and Independiente Rivadavia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Huracan and Independiente Rivadavia are separated by five places in the Argentine Primera Division table heading into Saturday’s gameweek five encounter at the Tomas Adolfo Duco Stadium.

The hosts are one of four undefeated sides at the start of the season but they could be leapfrogged by their opponents from Mendoza after round five’s fixture.

Match preview
Huracan may end atop the Argentine topflight after gameweek five, although that outcome requires Racing Club, Talleres and Union to drop points in winnable fixtures.

Frank Dario Kudelka’s men have hitherto matched the said teams in the season’s opening four games but sit fourth because of an inferior goal difference.

Only Banfield have prevented Globo from securing maximum points this term, with the 1-1 draw in gameweek two also the last time the Buenos Aires side have conceded in any competition.

A 1-0 triumph over Instituto preceded a 2-0 triumph at Barracas Central to keep Huracan joint-top in the top flight. They also kept a clean sheet in a domestic cup penalty shootout success over Platense on June 8, and Kudelka’s men aim to keep another clean sheet on Saturday.

Having conceded in just two home matches since the backend of January, Quemeros have reason to be confident when they welcome Independiente Rivadavia.

This weekend’s game is far from guaranteed, given the away side’s decent-to-good start and the possibility of moving ahead of Huracan after gameweek five.

That requires a four-goal win for Martin Cicotello’s men, which seems improbable given the home side’s strength as hosts since Talleres’ 2-1 win in Buenos Aires in January.

Cicotello may not care much about leapfrogging Huracan on goal difference, but his aim undoubtedly is avoiding another loss for the club still finding their way in the Primera Division after claiming the 2023 Primera Nacional title.

Ninth-placed Lepra have had an encouraging start, taking seven points from 12 in four rounds heading into this weekend’s fixture, and they aim for another scalp against the so-far undefeated home side.

However, Cicotello’s men must avoid falling into losing habits after consecutive defeats in all competitions — a domestic cup exit against Banfield (2-1) and a 1-0 reverse to Union in the league — threaten to derail the club’s promising start.

It remains to be seen if Independiente Rivadavia avoid a third straight loss this weekend, but that outcome could go a long way to calming fears of a drop-off even at this stage of their season.

Huracan Argentine Primera Division form:

Independiente Rivadavia Argentine Primera Division form:

Team News
Hernan Galindez (Ecuador) and Rodrigo Echeverria (Chile) are away on international duty with their national teams with the Copa American imminent.

Ignacio Pussetto (four goals) and Hector Fertoli (three goals) have netted Huracan’s seven goals this term, and both will be pivotal to this weekend’s result.

Victorio Ramis is suspended having got a straight red card in Independiente Rivadavia’s 1-0 loss against Union last time out.

Bruno Bianchi (muscle) and Rufino Lucero (wrist) are nearing returns, but Federico Castro (knee) is not expected back until the end of the year.

Huracan possible starting lineup:
Meza; Souto, Tobio, Carrizo, Ibanez; Alarcon, Toledo; Cabral, Fertoli, Mazzantti; Pussetto

Independiente Rivadavia possible starting lineup:
Marinelli; Palacios, Maidana, Petrasso; Diaz, Rios, F. Romero, G. Romero, Ostchega; Asenjo, Reali

We say: Huracan 1-0 Independiente Rivadavia
Saturday’s outcome will depend on Huracan finding ways to penetrate Independiente Rivadavia’s five-player defence. The hosts should be beneficiaries of Pussetto and Fertoli’s admirable starts this term to secure their fourth win.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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