"Their game with San Martín is a bit of a derby game with these sides the two biggest club in the west of Argentina, but San Martín - who haven't won in 16 games - will need more than the atmosphere boost of a rivalry to play at Godoy Cruz's standard, and we're backing the visitors at the phenomenal price of 2.89/5."
Ed Malyon previews this weekend's action in Argentina, and believes title-chasing Godoy Cruz are a phenomenal price to get the better of San Martín de San Juan...
Saturday
Argentinos Juniors v All Boys - 17:00
Ricardo Caruso Lombardi's hiring as a 'firefighter' usually signals an improvement in teams, and after he saved San Lorenzo last season he has been charged with doing the same for rock-bottom Argentinos. They couldn't be much worse, and as a good motivator we expect the notorious vendehumo to improve them but not so quickly that they would be 2.47/5 favourites for this weekend's game with All Boys.
A fairly solid lay at that price, with the visitors a real tough nut to crack.
Recommended Bet
Lay Argentinos at 2.56/4
River Plate v Vélez Sarsfield - 21:10
Check out our big match preview for a look at this weekend's humdinger at el Monumental.
Sunday
Independiente v Boca Juniors - 18:15
Boca rarely have such an early kick-off, so you know it's a derby game when their fixtures are brought forward like this.
Independiente's Avellaneda home is only a few miles south of La Bombonera, and these two near(ish) neighbours both proudly claim to be the most successful clubs in Argentina with Boca boasting a world record 18 international titles and el Rojo a record seven Copa Libertadores wins.
The last year has been poor for the two of them though, and while Independiente fight against relegation, Boca have struggled to impress under new (old) boss Carlos Bianchi. After such success with the club in the middle of the last decade, the fans have been somewhat dumbstruck when the return of the viceroy and talisman Juan Román Riquelme turned out to be a fairly unhappy one.
Winless in five league games and with their Copa Libertadores campaign still very much in the balance, most other managers arriving at Boca would be under some serious pressure, but a defeat to rivals Independiente would begin to make things even more awkward and at current there's little sign of things turning round.
In what will likely be a tense and heated clásico - any game between two of Argentina's big five is labelled thus - a result seems impossible to pick, and instead we are better served looking at the goals markets.
A big problem for the Xeneize has been their defence, which has lacked leadership since Rolando Schiavi left the club. New arrival Chiqui Perez has tried, withMatías Caruzzo, to adapt to the high defensive line favoured by Bianchi but it's been a disaster, and Caruzzo's fondness for giving away penalties has been costly.
This should be feisty, error-strewn and accompanied by a great atmosphere, so we fancy both teams to score as our bet for this one.
Recommended Bet
Both teams to score at 2.1211/10
San Martín de San Juan v Godoy Cruz - 20:10
They've had an easy start to the season but you can only beat what's put in front of you and Martín Palermo's Godoy Cruz are in the title mix as things stand.
Their game with San Martín is a bit of a derby game with these sides the two biggest club in the west of Argentina, but San Martín - who haven't won in 16 games - will need more than the atmosphere boost of a rivalry to play at Godoy Cruz's standard, and we're backing the visitors at the phenomenal price of 2.89/5.
How the hosts are favourites for this is an absolute mystery.
Recommended bet: Back Godoy Cruz 0 on Asian Handicap at 1.9310/11
San Lorenzo v Newell's Old Boys - 22:10
This game should be a corker, with both clubs playing some great football under progressive coaches - but don't expect many goals.
San Lore have the best defence in the league, with just two goals conceded all season, while Newell's only saw 11 get through them in the whole of last season.
With the added burden of Copa Libertadores football Gerardo Martino has not been able to keep his defence as tight, but they are still a very strong side who thrive on possession and boast the best player in the country in Ignacio Scocco
We'd back the unders if it weren't such a short price, so it may be better to just watch this one for the spectacle - no bet.
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