Colón lose a key player for Estudiantes (BA) clash | OneFootball

Colón has already set its sights on Estudiantes de Buenos Aires, a direct rival in the fight to finish in a strong position with an eye on the playoff stage, whom it will host this Saturday from 3 p.m. at Brigadier López Stadium, for Matchday 32 of Primera Nacional’s Zone A.

El Sabalero currently sits in fifth place with 48 points, one behind Deportivo Madryn, which is in fourth and currently holds a playoff spot. Above them are Godoy Cruz, four points ahead; Morón, six ahead; and Ferro, the zone leader, 12 ahead.

Iván Delfino’s team will look to leave behind the lackluster display it showed in Floresta, where it drew 0-0 with All Boys. That performance was far from the one it had produced a round earlier in Santa Fe, when Colón thrashed Los Andes 3-0 with a convincing display.

Now, the goal will be to recapture that feeling at the Brigadier López and pick up three points that will allow it to stay in the fight for the top spots.

Delfino gets Lago and Toledo back, but loses Muñoz at Colón

For the upcoming match, the Sabalero coach will have two important returns. Both Ignacio Lago and Agustín Toledo have served their suspensions and are once again available to be part of the starting lineup.

Nicolás Thaller will also be available after serving the two-match suspension he had to complete. However, the defender is currently behind other options in Delfino’s thinking and, in principle, would have little chance of returning to the starting XI.

On the other hand, Matías Muñoz reached his fifth yellow card in the draw against All Boys and will have to serve a one-match suspension. As a result, Toledo appears to be his natural replacement in midfield.

In addition, Delfino still will not be able to count on Matías Budiño and Franco García, who are continuing to recover from their respective injuries.

One doubt in defense and two changes elsewhere in Colón’s starting team

Colón’s main question mark ahead of hosting Estudiantes de Buenos Aires appears to be in the back line. Sebastián Olmedo could keep his place, although there is also the possibility that Pier Barrios returns to the starting lineup.

A third alternative is Thaller’s inclusion, although that would seem to be the least likely option in the coach’s plans.

In midfield, meanwhile, Toledo would return for the suspended Muñoz, while Lago has a chance to break into the starting XI in place of Risso Patrón.

The rest of the team would be the same as the one that started against All Boys, so Delfino would keep much of the structure he has been using.

Thus, while awaiting the recovery of his injured players and finalizing the back line, Colón is preparing for a key match in its battle to remain among the top spots in Zone A. On Saturday, at home, it will have the chance to make itself strong again and regain the prominence it showed against Los Andes.

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