As they continue their quest to move away from mid-table in the Argentine Primera Division, Boca Juniors host fellow Buenos Aires side Huracan on Monday evening.

The teams meet at La Bombonera, with Boca toiling in 11th place after 23 games and their visitors struggling near the foot of the standings.

Match preview

Although they avoided a fifth straight away defeat in the league, last time out Boca Juniors were restricted to a goalless draw by Union Santa Fe, which leaves them marooned in mid-table and some 21 points adrift of arch-rivals River Plate, who top the table.

Boca have been a pale shadow of their former selves so far this season, less than a year on from winning a 35th top-flight title, and they have posted only nine Primera Division wins so far this term; losing on as many occasions.

Nonetheless, the Xeneize recently sealed top spot in Copa Libertadores Group F by beating Monagas 4-0, and they can look forward to meeting Nacional in the last 16 at the start of next month.

Before returning to their pursuit of a seventh continental crown - and a first since 2007 - Jorge Almiron's men must tackle their capital-city counterparts Huracan on the day River could be confirmed as champions.

That could make for a febrile atmosphere at La Bombonera, as Almiron comes under pressure to improve results - since arriving in Buenos Aires in April, though, his side have a relatively healthy 50% win rate.

That percentage could be set to increase on Monday, if recent form is any guide, as Huracan will arrive in La Boca on a winless streak of 13 matches in all competitions.

The Parque Patricios club sit second-bottom of the standings following Friday's 1-0 reverse at home to Atletico Tucuman, having also exited the Copa Sudamericana last month, when they finished bottom of their group.

Only Argentina's system of deciding relegation based on a three-year points average should keep them afloat in the top tier, though the last-placed side are still demoted automatically.

All of which is a far cry from finishing fourth last year, only five points shy of 2022 champions Boca. As a result of such terminal decline, Huracan recently sacked Sebastian Battaglia and hired ex-Tigre coach Diego Martinez.

To fire up his new troops on Monday, the 44-year-old may invoke Globo's 1-0 win at La Bombonera in March of last year, when Uruguayan striker Matias Coccaro struck a second-half winner for the visitors.

Team News

Ahead of Monday's game, Boca Juniors boss Jorge Almiron has been boosted by the return to full training of Ezequiel Fernandez, Oscar Romero, Exequiel Zeballos and star striker Dario Benedetto following injury.

All four could now be fit to play a part against Huracan, but the hosts have fresh concerns over young left-back Agustin Sandez, who has picked up a muscular problem.

In addition, Nicolas Valentini had to be replaced by 36-year-old veteran Facundo Roncaglia during the draw with Union; fellow defender Nicolas Figal will be absent due to a ban for yellow-card accumulation, while midfielder Esteban Rolon - who was sent off as a substitute in Santa Fe - must also serve a suspension.

Huracan, captained by former Boca defender Fernando Tobio, have lined up in a 4-1-3-2 formation since Diego Martinez took charge, with Fernando Godoy screening the back four.

Matias Coccaro should start up front for the visitors, alongside four-goal top scorer Nicolas Cordero.

Boca Juniors possible starting lineup:
Romero; Weigandt, Valdez, Roncaglia, Fabra; Ramirez, Valera, G. Fernandez; Zeballos, Merentiel, Barco

Huracan possible starting lineup:
Chavez; Soto, Tobio, Novillo, Ibanez; Godoy; Gomez, Gaucho, Acevedo; Coccaro, Cordero

We say: Boca Juniors 2-0 Huracan

Although they certainly improved in their new coach's first game in charge, Huracan still failed to score last time out and do not pack a punch in the final third. As several Boca stars could be back on the bench following injury, the hosts' greater firepower will therefore swing the result in their favour.


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