Unión seek home edge, Belgrano in Córdoba desperate for a win | OneFootball

Unión will visit Belgrano, aiming to finish among the top four teams in Zone A of the Clausura. The match will be played at 5:00 PM in Córdoba.

Unión and Belgrano will face each other this Monday at 5:00 PM at the Julio César Villagra stadium in Córdoba, in a regular phase finale with very different realities. The Pirata comes in with water up to their neck and is forced to take all three points to avoid elimination, while the Tatengue, already qualified, seeks to secure home advantage for the Clausura Tournament playoffs.

Belgrano, on the edge and with multiple constraints

The Córdoba side is going through a delicate moment. Although they have only won one of their last seven matches, they still have a mathematical chance of making it into the top eight of Zone A. They start the round in 10th place with 19 points and their scenario is clear: they must win no matter what.

Ricardo Zielinski’s team arrives battered, both in their play and physically. In addition to the already known absences of Lisandro López, Franco Jara, Adrián Spörle, and Santiago Longo, who are still recovering, they now face the need to rebuild the team. The good news for the coach is the return of Lucas Passerini, who has served his suspension and will start.

The Ruso worked during the week to rearrange pieces, and everything indicates he will opt for a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Ulises Sánchez coming in for Tobías Ostchega and the inclusion of Passerini up front to boost an attack looking to regain effectiveness after several inconsistent matches.

Unión, already qualified but still with much at stake

On the other side is Unión, arriving with relative calm. The goalless draw against Barracas Central allowed them to secure their ticket to the round of 16 one round early, but not everything is settled: if they earn at least one point in Alberdi, they will guarantee starting the playoffs at the 15 de Abril stadium.

Leonardo Madelón’s team has maintained a solid campaign, allowing them to navigate a very tight Zone A with confidence. However, they arrive with some forced changes. The absence of Lautaro Vargas, suspended due to yellow card accumulation, opens the door for Emiliano Álvarez to come in.

Additionally, Madelón is considering two more changes: Franco Fragapane for Agustín Palavecino, Cristian Tarragona—who started the week involved in a legal situation after a police search at his home, clarified by the club in a statement—for Marcelo Estigarribia, in a forward line that would be completed by Agustín Colazo, who actually came up through Belgrano.

A clash with impact on both tables

For Belgrano, it’s an early final. With a win, they will have done their part and will wait for other results to see if they make it to the big fight. For Unión, on the other hand, it’s a chance to close the regular phase in order, secure home advantage, and head into the decisive stage of the Clausura with momentum.

In Alberdi, two urgencies collide: one team with no margin for error and the other looking to consolidate their campaign. On Monday, the 15 de Abril and the entire playoff bracket could start to take shape.

Possible lineups for Belgrano and Unión

Belgrano: Thiago Cardozo; Gabriel Compagnucci, Leonardo Morales, Alexis Maldonado, and Federico Ricca; Ulises Sánchez, Lucas Menossi, and Francisco González Metilli; Lucas Zelarayán; Nicolás Fernández and Lucas Passerini. Coach: Ricardo Zielinski.

Unión: Matías Tagliamonte; Emiliano Álvarez, Maizon Rodríguez, Valentín Fascendini, and Mateo Del Blanco; Julián Palacios, Mauro Pittón, Mauricio Martínez, and Franco Fragapane; Agustín Colazo and Cristian Tarragona. Coach: Leonardo Madelón.

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