River vs Estudiantes de Rio Cuarto
River Plate postponed their away match against Sarmiento last weekend and now return to action. Their last game was three weeks ago, when they lost 2-1 at home to Huracán. That result ended a five-match unbeaten run in the Clausura, with four wins and one draw. With a game in hand, El Millonario are currently outside the Group B playoff qualification zone, sitting ninth with 13 points, two behind eighth-placed Barracas Central, and 10th in the annual table, occupying the final Copa Sudamericana qualification spot. Estudiantes Río Cuarto suffered a 2-1 home defeat against Racing Club, in another performance that underlined their struggles to compete at Primera División level. It was another step towards the relegation abyss for El León del Imperio. Rubén Forestello’s men have now gone ten matches without a win in the Clausura, with three draws and seven defeats, and remain bottom of Group B with just six points. They are also last in the average-points table and the annual standings. They have not been mathematically relegated yet, but avoiding the drop would require several results to go their way: they need to collect all 15 available points, while hoping Aldosivi take three or fewer and Deportivo Riestra four or fewer. Their away form offers little encouragement either, with Estudiantes now 16 matches without a win on the road, including four draws and 12 defeats. Can’t see how River won’t easily win this game against a team that knows that will be relegated this week or the next one, and will have to use a 3rd goalkeeper because the 1st one was released due to disciplinary actions and the 2nd one is injured.