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

In the lead-up to this Saturday’s clash at 17:45 in Florencio Varela, journalist Marcos Sittner provided an in-depth analysis of the current state of the “Halcón.” Although the team is near the top of the table with 16 points, Sittner warned that the numbers can be misleading when it comes to the team’s actual footballing level.

The “lie” of the results and the debt at Tomaghello

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

Defensa is carrying a historic negative streak at their stadium, where they haven’t won since October (seven consecutive home games without a win), which is almost a record for the club.

“The table lies a bit about the reality of Defensa y Justicia,” said Sittner, pointing out 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 shared is Defensa’s historic difficulty in beating teams managed by Leonardo Madelón.

Team formation and possible starting eleven

The squad is currently being rebuilt after Juan Militello’s departure to Fortaleza and the arrival of last-minute reinforcements. With no clear center forward, Rubén Botta (formerly of Colón) stands out as a key player, playing as a “false nine.”

To face the “Tatengue,” the team managed by Souto would repeat the starting eleven that defeated San Lorenzo:

This Saturday, Defensa will face a crucial test against Unión to show 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.