Deportivo Riestra vs Gimnasia M. Prediction

Alright, gather round! Mr Simple's got a proper Argentine snoozefest for you this Thursday – and I mean that in the best possible way. Deportivo Riestra host Gimnasia M. in the Liga Profesional, and if you're looking for a game with more draws than a primary school art class, you've come to the right place.

Let's start with the home side, shall we? Riestra are sitting down in 26th with just five points from eight games, but don't let that fool you – they're the undisputed kings of the stalemate. Five draws in eight matches this season, and their last four league games? Four straight draws! We're talking 0-0 against Platense, 0-0 against Velez Sarsfield, 0-0 against Huracan, and a 1-1 with Newells Old Boys. They haven't won a league game all season (0-5-3), but they don't lose easily either – especially on their own patch where they've only lost once in their last six (W1 D4 L1).

Now Gimnasia M. come into this in 13th place with eight points, but they're about as consistent as British weather. They just took a proper pasting from Union Santa Fe (4-0, ouch!), and away from home they've only managed one win in their last five trips (W1 D2 L2). They're scoring a measly 0.6 goals per game while conceding one a match – not exactly setting the world alight, are they?

But here's where it gets tasty, mate. The head-to-head between these two is like watching Groundhog Day. Four draws in their last five meetings! The last three times they've faced off? All square. Zilch. Nada. They just seem to cancel each other out completely.

The goal expectancies tell the story too – we're looking at roughly 0.87 for the home side and 0.47 for the visitors. That's about 1.3 goals expected in total. Both teams love a clean sheet as well – Riestra have kept five in their last ten, Gimnasia four in ten.

Key Points:

• Riestra have drawn 5 of their 8 league games this season (62.5% draw rate)

• Four consecutive draws in their last four Liga Profesional matches

• Head-to-head history shows 4 draws in the last 5 meetings between these sides

• Both teams struggle for goals: Riestra averaging 0.30 per game, Gimnasia 0.60

• Gimnasia's away form: only 1 win in last 5 on the road (W1 D2 L2)

• Riestra's home record: lost only once in last 6 at home (W1 D4 L1)

Summary: It's the draw for me, guv. At 2.80, that's lovely jubbly value for a match that has stalemate stamped all over it. Riestra can't win for toffee but they don't get beat easily at home, and Gimnasia are poor travellers who've just been battered 4-0. This has 0-0 or 1-1 written all over it. Back the draw.