Belgrano play host to Barracas Central on Thursday evening looking to strengthen their hold of a top-eight place in the Argentine Primera Division.

Meanwhile, Barracas Central make the trip to El Gigante de Alberdi looking for the win which will keep them looking at the teams above them rather than worrying about becoming embroiled in any kind of a relegation scrap.

Match preview

There was a time earlier in the season when top-flight newcomers Belgrano were flying on their return to the top tier, posting four successive wins as recently as April.

However, since then, just three victories have come from nine outings, with their most recent fixture ending in a 1-0 defeat at lowly Instituto.

Although Guillermo Farre will take the positives from his team still occupying eighth spot, he knows that they will have to find a different gear to retain hold of a Copa Sudamericana group-stage place for next season.

Goals have been the major issue during the second phase of the campaign, with just 20 being scored in 22 games, and Belgrano have now netted just three times in their last 450 minutes in the league.

On a more positive note, they have been sensational at their home ground, collecting 21 points from 10 fixtures to leave them with one of the standout records in the league.

From the perspective of Barracas Central, they have overcome a shaky start to the second phase by putting together a run which has seen them lose just once in nine games.

Five of those matches have been draws, keeping them in the bottom half of the table, but they produced their best performance of the season last time out as they defeated leaders River Plate.

Goals from Carlos Arce and Mauro Peinipil earned a 2-1 victory for Rodolfo de Paoli's side, extending their current undefeated streak to three games.

In sharp contrast to Belgrano, Barracas' away record is abysmal, with just one win - back in February - coming from 10 games on their travels.

Team News

Belgrano will be able to call upon Franco Jara after the forward served a one-match suspension for the defeat at Instituto.

Fabian Bordagaray will almost certainly drop out of the attack, allowing Jara to continue his partnership with fellow 34-year-old Pablo Vegetti who has netted 13 times during the second league phase.

Like their hosts, Barracas can also welcome a player back from a one-game ban with Nicolas Capraro available to return in the middle of the backline.

However, Juan Ignacio Diaz impressed against River Plate in his place, leaving Capraro to contemplate a likely spot on the substitutes' bench.

Barring any fitness issues, De Paoli may opt to keep the same side that performed so admirably versus the frontrunners.

Belgrano possible starting lineup:
Losada; Barinaga, Rebola, Meriano, Ibacache; Sanchez, Longo, Castro, Zapelli; Vegetti, Jara

Barracas Central possible starting lineup:
Desabato; Peinipil, Alvarez, Diaz, Insua; Arce, Herrera; Mater, Tapia, Calderara; Sepulveda

We say: Belgrano 2-1 Barracas Central

With both teams on a run of inconsistency, this is a difficult match to predict. However, despite the visitors having returned to winning ways last time out, we are going to give the edge to Belgrano, who could prevail by a late goal.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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