Form and context

Sarmiento Junin sit seventh in Zona B with 21 points from six wins, three draws and five defeats, and they have gone three matches without a win. Rosario Central lead Zona B and arrive on a run of three straight victories. This is Sarmiento's final home game of the regular phase, and they depend on their own results to reach the playoffs.

Team news

• Sarmiento Junin: Jhon Renteria is out with a knee injury, and Julian Contrera is suspended after reaching five yellow cards. Sarmiento had not opened ticket sales, and there is a possibility the match will again be limited to members only.
• Rosario Central: Ibarra is absent, and coach Jorge Almiron is still weighing his starting eleven, with the possibility that Axel Werner starts in goal described as one of the main questions. The match will be played without away supporters.

What the numbers say

• Sarmiento have lost only once at home in Junin this Clausura, on 23 July, and are six home games unbeaten with three wins and three draws.
• Central have won four, drawn two and lost one of seven away games this Clausura, and are unbeaten in six on the road.
• Central have scored eleven goals in their last four Clausura matches, the same total as in their first ten.
• In all competitions, Sarmiento's last five read a 2-0 loss at Gimnasia L.P., two 1-1 draws (Barracas Central, River Plate), a 3-1 win at Aldosivi and a 3-1 loss at Racing Club; Central's last five include a 2-0 win over Huracan and a 5-0 win over Independiente Rivadavia.

Our view

Sarmiento's home record is the clear counterweight to Central's strong away form, and the two absences give Facundo Sava selection problems in a match his side needs to win. Central are the division's leaders and have found their scoring touch, but Junin has been a difficult trip for visitors.

Most likely outcome: draw - Sarmiento's six-game unbeaten home run against Central's six-game unbeaten away run points to a share of the points.