Velez – Talleres
Thanks to a brilliant goal from Tobías Andrada in the 91st minute, Vélez Sarsfield kicked off 2026 with a major boost, grinding out a 1-0 away win over Instituto last Thursday. Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s side picked up their first three points of the Torneo Apertura. Therefore, El Fortín also snapped a four-match winless run in league play (one draw and three losses). At home, however, Vélez are still struggling, having gone four league games without a win (one point from the last 12 available). Star winger Maher Carrizo returns as his transfer is still not resolved.
Talleres began the new season carrying over the positive momentum from the end of the previous one. With goals from new signing Ronaldo Martínez and Valentín Depietri, La T earned a deserved 2-1 home win over Newell’s Old Boys last Friday, collecting their first three points of the Torneo Apertura and recording their third victory in the last five league matches (one draw and one defeat). Carlos Tevez’s side lost their most recent away league match, a 2-0 defeat to Boca Juniors in the round of 16 of the 2025 Torneo Clausura, which ended a five-game unbeaten run on the road (two wins and three draws). Velez will have young star Carrizo back in attack after his transfer to a danish club was not confirmed and that should give them an offensive boost. Talleres looked good in their win against Newell’s, so two goals seem very likely between these two offensive minded teams.