With Malcorra starting, El Rojo chase qualification at Nuevo Gasómetro | OneFootball

Independiente has a real final ahead. This Saturday, Gustavo Quinteros' team visits San Lorenzo with one clear objective: to seal qualification for the Apertura round of 16. For this key clash, the coach gets his top trump card back: Ignacio Malcorra. The midfielder has put the pain in his left ankle behind him and, after training alongside the group, will return to the starting eleven.

Malcorra’s return forces Quinteros to decide who comes out of the team, with one doubt that will remain until the very last moment: Maxi Gutiérrez or Santiago Montiel. In addition, the Rojo will have a mandatory absence at left back, since Facundo Zabala reached the yellow-card limit and his place will be taken by Milton Valenzuela.

The likely starting eleven at the Nuevo Gasómetro: Rodrigo Rey; Santiago Arias, Kevin Lomónaco, Sebastián Valdéz, Milton Valenzuela; Mateo Pérez Cursi, Iván Marcone; Santiago Montiel or Gutiérrez, Ignacio Malcorra, Matías Abaldo; Gabriel Ávalos.

As for the qualification math, the picture is clear: if Independiente win, they’re in. A draw would also leave them with a very strong chance, since they would only be eliminated if Defensa y Justicia thrash Gimnasia de Mendoza by a margin of five goals or more. A Saturday full of major decisions is coming up in Avellaneda.

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