Independiente have been a far better team away than at home this Clausura: four wins from five on the road with three goals conceded, against one win in six at home. That's usually the profile of a side happy to let the hosts come at them, and Talleres, last in Zone A on eight points, have little choice but to come at them. The twist is that the two pieces a counter-punching away side leans on most are both compromised here. The player who turns a regain into an attack is suspended, and the midfielder who shields the back four is one booking away from missing the Racing derby.
Maximiliano Meza was sent off against Instituto and misses this one. El Intransigente calls him the team's main playmaker, at his best when he links up with Santiago Montiel, and Jadson Viera tried both Luciano Cabral and Lautaro Millán in his place. The same report notes that Iván Marcone is sitting on four yellow cards with the Clásico against Racing next. Viera's own position has been questioned since the 4-1 home defeat to Instituto, and he tested changes right across the back line.
Talleres have their own hole, and it's up front. Agustín Álvarez Martínez is still serving his ban from the red card against Instituto, and Cadena 3 points out that Valentín Dávila is the only natural centre-forward left, without a league start since early May. Omar De Felippe used Diego Valoyes as a makeshift nine in the derby defeat to Belgrano. At home Talleres have five goals in six league games. So the team that has to carry the ball is short of a reference point, and the team built to wait has lost the player who releases it.
Both coaches arrive with their futures being discussed, De Felippe with one win in his first four games according to El Intransigente. I suspect this comes down less to quality than to who loses patience first. Does Independiente's road shape still work without Meza to spring it, or does it turn into Talleres pushing and Independiente just clearing their lines?
