El Rojo to face Unión with unchanged line-up, says journalist | OneFootball

This Tuesday, from 19:45, the Libertadores de América – Ricardo Enrique Bochini Stadium will be the stage for a crucial duel on the tenth date of the Apertura Tournament. After the pause in Argentine football due to the AFA's strike, Independiente hosts a Unión de Santa Fe that arrives on a high, but with a heavy historical burden on its shoulders.

The present of the «Rojo»: Effectiveness and respect for the rival

In a conversation with Radio Gol, journalist Facundo Fazio analyzed the current state of the Avellaneda team, rating their tournament start with a «thumbs up». With 13 points, the Rojo is in fourth place, having overcome a complex fixture against rivals like Estudiantes, Lanús, and Vélez. According to Fazio, although Quinteros' team lacks the «sparkle» to satisfy the demanding taste of the fans, it has achieved defensive solidity and institutional seriousness not seen in previous cycles.

For this clash, the journalist anticipated that Independiente will seek to «suffocate Unión from the start», knowing that Tatengue struggles to impose its game when away from Santa Fe. Regarding the team setup, Quinteros would bet on continuity and the lineup would be Rey; Godoy, Fedorco, Lomónaco, Zabala; Millán, Marcone, Malcorra; Pusetto (with an asterisk for Montiel), Ávalos, and Abaldo.

Unión and the obsession to break 28 years of drought

On the visitor's side, Leonardo Madelón's team arrives at an excellent moment after chaining three consecutive victories against Aldosivi, Sarmiento, and Instituto. With 14 points, Tatengue occupies the third position in Zone A and knows that a victory in Avellaneda would not only consolidate them on the podium but also close a historical wound.

The statistics are relentless: Unión has not won at the Rojo's home since November 6, 1998. That afternoon, with a goal by Martín Perezlindo, the team led by Mario Zanabria achieved the last red-and-white victory in what was then the «Doble Visera». Since that sacred shout, almost three decades of frustrations in Avellaneda have passed, which this squad seeks to bury.

Tension in the offices: The «friction» between Spahn and Seoane

Beyond the football aspect, Fazio revealed an extra ingredient: the tense relationship between the managements. The conflict between Luis Spahn and Daniel Seoane (Secretary General of Independiente) over debts and updates on the dollar value in previous transfers has left a «strong resentment». According to the reporter, this personal dispute has caused Independiente to «close the door» to Unión on any loan requests, hardening negotiations between both institutions.

With the refereeing under scrutiny and the anxiety of a local audience that has gone 24 years without domestic titles, this Tuesday's duel promises to be a tactical and emotional battle. Unión will try to ensure that, once and for all, history stops being a burden and becomes the driving force for an epic victory.

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