Velez Sarsfield have great possibilities of winning the Argentine championship, as they know that if they claim maximum points against bottom-placed Union de Santa Fe at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani on Sunday it would be enough for the title.
With two rounds remaining in the Argentine Torneo Inicial Velez lead with 35 points, two points ahead of second-placed Lanus with 33 points, and five points ahead of Boca Juniors, Belgrano de Cordoba and Newell's Old Boys with 30, teams who still have mathematical chances of winning the title.
Velez, who have been Argentina's most consistent team in recent years, travel to Atletico Rafaela next week, but will be hoping to have already assured themselves of the much-sought after title with a win over Union.
Ricardo Gareca has moulded together an extremely solid unit, despite the sale of a number of key players last season, and out of 17 games his team have won 11, drawn two and lost four. Velez are also the league's highest scorers with 26 goals, thanks in great part to Facundo Ferreyra who has notched up nine of them.
Gareca has yet to confirm his starting eleven for the much-awaited contest with Union, but according to reports key midfielder and captain Federico Insua could miss out due to fitness problems. If Insua, who has been one of Velez's best players this season, doesn't make it in time his position will likely be occupied by Jonathan Copete.
Meanwhile, although it seemed that Fernando Tobio would miss out as well, he has since recovered from a knock, and is expected to be confirmed in Velez's starting eleven.
Velez's starting line-up is expected to look like the following: Sebastian Sosa, Fabian Cubero, Fernando Tobio, Sebastian Dominguez, Emiliano Papa, Ivan Bella, Francisco Cerro, Ariel Cabral, Insua or Copete, Facundo Ferreyra and Lucas Pratto.
Union coach Nery Pumpido will be hoping to spoil the party and one of his key players, midfielder Fausto Montero, insists that they will play their hearts out in order to complicate Velez's path to the title.
"Velez are one of the best teams and they will try to be the champions in this game. But we will go there to play our game because we don't want to leave empty handed," stated Montero.
But Union's chances of pulling off an upset seem rather remote, as the Santa Fe-based side have yet to claim a victory in 17 games this season, with six draws and eleven losses.
Velez's last four matches
Nov 25, 2012: All Boys 0-2 Velez (Torneo Inicial)
Nov 18, 2012: Velez 0-1 Boca Juniors (Torneo Inicial)
Nov 13, 2012: Quilmes 0-1 Velez (Torneo Inicial)
Nov 9, 2012: Velez 2-1 Godoy Cruz (Torneo Inicial)
Union's last four matches
Nov 24, 2012: Union 2-2 Newell's Old Boys (Torneo Inicial)
Nov 18, 2012: Colon 2-0 Union (Torneo Inicial)
Nov 13, 2012: Union 2-2 San Lorenzo (Torneo Inicial)
Nov 10, 2012: River Plate 2-0 Union (Torneo Inicial)
Facts
- Of the four games Velez have lost this season, three of them came at home against Lanus, Colon and Boca.
- Union de Santa Fe are the only team in the Argentine First Division to have yet to win a game this season.
