First test for Unión: behind closed doors v Ben Hur, eyeing changes | OneFootball

So far, Leonardo Madelón’s assessments at Tatengue had been strictly confined to the privacy of morning training sessions, tactical drills, and the aerobic response of a professional squad that is still very much in the midst of a restructuring process. However, next weekend will present a different context, one much closer to reality: the return to competition on the pitch.

The first formal test and the spotlight on the youngsters

This Saturday, Unión will play its first preseason friendly when it faces Ben Hur of Rafaela. The footballing test will take place at the club’s training ground and will be held behind closed doors, with no access allowed for fans or the media. Following the usual pattern of these preparatory matchdays, the activity will be split into two consecutive games, a method that will allow the coaching staff to give minutes to the vast majority of its players.

Far from trying to settle on a definitive starting lineup, the head coach will use the match to evaluate performances and draw conclusions. The constant transfers in this transfer window have noticeably altered the makeup of the starting team, leaving vacancies that the club’s directors have yet to fill. Because of this, the day’s primary objective will be to find internal alternatives rather than confirm fixed names. Under this premise, the occasion takes on major importance for the youth academy players, who, given the lack of depth in specific areas of the field, will have the chance to show themselves and gain consideration on the coaching staff’s radar.

Expectation around Luna Diale and the coach’s situation

The match also generates interest because of what Mauro Luna Diale may bring. The midfielder completed his return to the Santa Fe club and, to date, stands as the only new face brought in for the competitions in the second half of the year. Although his official presentation is still pending, the player is training normally alongside the group and appears set to get his first minutes of football in this new spell if the manager sees fit.

This opening warm-up match also comes amid a very particular institutional situation for Madelón. At the same time as he oversees the physical and footballing preparation of his players, negotiations to finalize the renewal of his contract continue to drag on without a definitive resolution. In any case, this contractual uncertainty has not interfered with the head coach’s daily schedule or changed the intensity of training planning.

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