Aldosivi head into Unión clash in crisis: 21 games winless, must win | OneFootball

Unión and Aldosivi will face each other this weekend in Mar del Plata in a match that looks loaded with pressure for both teams. Both the Santa Fe side, coached by Leonardo Madelón, and the home team, led by Hernán Darío Damonte, are going through difficult moments and need points to regain some peace of mind.

From Mar del Plata, journalist Juan Alliani analyzed Aldosivi’s current situation and said the team is going through an especially complicated sporting spell. The port side has now gone 21 matches without a win, with 11 defeats and 10 draws during that long run.

Damonte has been in charge for only five matches, so he is not seen as the main person responsible for the poor run of form. Before his arrival, Luis García, Guillermo Farré and Mariano Charlier were among the coaches who took charge of the Shark during this period.

The lack of results has also created a climate of strong tension between the squad and the fans. Last week, a group of supporters showed up at the training ground where the team stays, located in the port area of Mar del Plata, to demand greater commitment and better results.

The 0-0 draw against Tigre in the last round helped ease the tension somewhat, although the fans’ patience remains at its limit.

In that context, the match against Unión could become a decisive one for Damonte’s future. A defeat could once again cast doubt on whether he will remain in charge, in a situation similar to the one Madelón is facing with the Santa Fe side.

The Minella, another source of concern

Aldosivi’s sporting troubles add to the delicate condition of the José María Minella stadium, the venue for the match.

The historic World Cup stadium in Mar del Plata, built for the 1978 World Cup, has suffered marked deterioration in recent years. Maintenance, which for a long time was also driven by the traditional summer tournaments and the major matches played there by Boca, River, Racing, Independiente and other teams, lost momentum especially after the pandemic.

The stadium is currently going through a concession process aimed at restoring its facilities. In recent weeks, there was even a change in the company in charge of operating the complex.

The investment needed to restore the Minella runs into the millions. One of the main problems lies in the historic covered stand, which remains closed due to structural issues and the risk of collapse.

The situation also directly affects media workers. The booths usually used for television broadcasts are located beneath that section, so journalists covering matches at the stadium have to move to the uncovered stand and share space with the public.

The complex also includes the Mar del Plata Municipal Sports Center, a venue in much better condition that continues to be used for major sporting events, such as Peñarol’s games in the National Basketball League.

Aldosivi’s possible lineup

Heading into the match against Unión, Aldosivi appears to have its starting lineup virtually decided.

The expected eleven are Lucas Acosta; Elías López, Leonardo Sigali, Joaquín Pombo and Braian Cufré; Alan Sosa, Lucas Castro, Felipe Anzo and Nicolás Gaitán; Andrés Vombergar and Matías Godoy.

Among the notable names is Cufré, who returned to Mar del Plata after his stint in Brazilian football and is especially beloved by Aldosivi fans. Nicolás Gaitán is also in the squad, the former Boca and Benfica player and one of the team’s recent signings.

With its current form the main concern, Aldosivi will go into the clash against Unión with the urgent need to end a streak that has already reached 21 matches. On the other side, the Tatengue will also arrive under pressure to pick up points, so the match could become a decisive one for the future of both coaches.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.