First test for Unión: Ben Hur behind closed doors, eyes on changes | OneFootball

So far, Leonardo Madelón's assessments at Tatengue had been strictly limited 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 youth

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

Far from trying to settle on a definitive starting lineup, the head coach will use the matchup to evaluate performances and draw conclusions. The constant transfers in this transfer window have noticeably altered the makeup of the first team, leaving gaps that the club’s directors have yet to fill. Because of this, the day’s main objective will be to find internal alternatives rather than confirm fixed names. Under this premise, the occasion takes on major significance 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 earn consideration from the coaching staff.

Expectations around Luna Diale and the coach’s situation

The match also draws interest because of what Mauro Luna Diale may bring. The midfielder has 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 coach deems it appropriate.

This initial warm-up match also comes amid a very particular situation at the leadership level 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. Even so, this contractual uncertainty has not interfered with the head coach’s daily agenda or changed the intensity of training planning.

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