Independiente – Sarmiento
Independiente had to settle for an unfortunate 0-0 draw against Boca Juniors away from home in the final league match of 2024, which left them eighth in the aggregate table (and qualified for the 2025 Copa Sudamericana). El Rojo showed their best form in the latter part of the season, earning seven out of the last nine points available and remaining unbeaten in their last 14 home matches in this competition (seven wins and seven draws). The squad underwent significant changes, with seven new arrivals and 11 departures, but only Joaquin Laso (who will play for Tigre) was a regular starter to leave. Sebastián Valdez joined from CA Central Cordoba to replace him. Independiente beat Defensor Sporting 5-2 away in Uruguay in their only friendly game last Saturday. Sarmiento were clearly the worst team in the Argentine league in 2024, earning only 35 points, which would have condemned them to relegation if the drop had not been canceled. In fact, they have a huge task ahead to stay up, as they sit last in the point-averages table (excluding newly promoted teams). Their 1-1 away draw against Banfield means El Verde picked up only two points from the last nine available and have now gone 11 matches without an away win (four draws and seven losses). Coach Javier Sanguinetti will miss Nicolas Gaitan (free agent) Elías López (to Belgrano) and Franco Paredes (Independiente), while Alex Vigo (Talleres) and Renzo Orihuela (Bolivar, Bolivia) arrived. Independiente had a strong 2nd half of the season last year and should continue on the same path with an improved squad, while Sarmiento starts at the bottom of the relegation table and they are one of the main candidates this year to go to 2nd division: playmaker Gaitan left, veteran striker Lisandro Lopez retired and their new names are nothing special so I’ll trust the hosts to get an easy win.