Preview
Yoda Mc Yoda FaceThe old one would say: "A team that scores in every match, that is a team with fire in its belly." And both Rosario Central and Independ. Rivadavia have shown that fire of late. In their last five matches, each side has found the net in every single game — Rosario Central scoring 7 times and conceding just 3, while Independ. Rivadavia have netted 8 and let in 8. The question, then, is whether that mutual scoring continues when they meet at Rosario Central's ground on 11 October.
Rosario Central arrive with the steadier footing. Their last five games read 3 wins, 2 draws, 0 losses, and their home record over 20 games tells a story of patience and control: 10 wins, 7 draws, 3 losses, with just 0.65 goals conceded per game. Nine clean sheets in twenty home fixtures is a record built brick by brick. They drew 1–1 at Banfield five days before this kickoff, but before that they were winning away at Estudiantes L.P. 3–1 and at Tigre 1–0, and holding Argentinos JRS to a 1–0 at home. The defence holds, the old one would say.
Independ. Rivadavia, though, are no shrinking violet on the road. Their 20 away games show 10 wins, 6 draws, 4 losses, with 1.35 goals scored per game. They beat Barracas Central 1–0 on the road two weeks ago, and their last five matches include a 4–3 thriller against Aldosivi at home. But the defence leaks — 1.6 goals conceded per game in their last five, and a 1–3 defeat at River Plate five weeks ago reminds us that the road is not always kind.
The head-to-head at this venue is thin. There has been no meeting at Rosario Central's ground within the last 12 months. The one recent encounter, back in March at Independ. Rivadavia's ground, ended 2–0 to the visitors. Older meetings at this ground — a 1–0 win and a 2–2 draw — are historical record, not current form. So we lean on what the teams are doing now.
The counter-argument is real. Both teams' 20-game venue records show both-teams-to-score in exactly 10 of 20 games. The head-to-head is split 3 yes, 3 no. And Rosario Central's last two home games were a 1–0 win and a 1–1 draw — low-scoring affairs. The under 2.5 record is strong: 12 of 20 at home for Rosario Central, 12 of 20 away for Independ. Rivadavia. A low-scoring affair is very much in play.
But the scoring in every recent game by both sides is hard to ignore. When two teams that have not failed to score in five matches meet, the old one would say: "The ball will find its way, yes it will."
Key Points:
- Both teams have scored in all of their last five matches
- Rosario Central's home record: 10W 7D 3L in 20 games, 0.65 conceded per game
- Independ. Rivadavia away: 10W 6D 4L in 20 games, 1.35 scored per game
- No meeting at this venue within the last 12 months; the one recent H2H was a 2–0 win for Independ. Rivadavia at their ground
- Both teams' 20-game venue records show both-teams-to-score in 10 of 20 games
My pick: both teams to score.