With Rubén Botta as a false nine: Defensa’s likely line-up to face Tatengue | OneFootball

Before the clash this Saturday at 17:45 in Florencio Varela, journalist Marcos Sittner provided an in-depth analysis of the current state of the "Halcón". Despite the team being at the top of the table with 16 points, Sittner warned that the numbers might be misleading regarding the team's actual football level.

The "lie" of the results and the debt at Tomaghello

According to the reporter, the recent 5-2 victory against San Lorenzo covered up a complex reality: before that match, the team had left the field to whistles from their fans.

Defensa carries a historic negative streak at their stadium, where they haven't won since October (seven consecutive matches without home victories), which is almost a record for the club.

"The table somewhat lies about the reality of Defensa y Justicia", stated Sittner, noting that the team has shown good starts but tends to struggle and fall back in the second halves, as happened against Newell’s and Platense.

The "ghost" of Madelón: a crushing statistic

One of the most curious facts Sittner highlighted is Defensa's historical difficulty in defeating teams managed by Leonardo Madelón.

The team setup and the possible lineup

The squad is in the process of rebuilding following Juan Militello's departure to Fortaleza and the arrival of last-minute reinforcements. In the absence of a defined center forward, Rubén Botta (formerly of Colón) emerges as a key figure, playing as a "false nine".

To face the "Tatengue", the team technically led by Souto would repeat the lineup that defeated San Lorenzo:

This Saturday, Defensa will face a crucial test against Unión to demonstrate whether Monday's thrashing was truly a turning point or just a mirage in a season where, after nine years, they are not competing in international cups.

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