Union will play host to Lanus on Sunday in their latest Argentine Primera Division encounter with both teams looking to return to winning ways.
The hosts would climb into 11th spot with a victory, while the visitors will be aiming to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
Gustavo Munua’s side have started the second phase of the Argentine Primera Division in mixed form, with two victories and defeats, as well as one loss in their opening five matches.
In addition to what they have achieved earlier on in the campaign, Union are currently sitting 18th in the table, being in a strong position to kick on and climb further.
A victory on Sunday could see them climb into third depending on other results, but El Tate will need to improve their performances from the previous game against Nacional.
They suffered a 2-0 defeat in that Copa Sudamericana fixture, conceding a couple of goals in the opening 25 minutes without responding for the remainder of the game.
Despite that, Munua will be hoping his team takes confidence from their previous league match where they fought until the last minute to claim a 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors due to a late penalty from Franco Troyansky.
Lanus have only managed one victory so far in the second phase of the competition, and overall they have struggled throughout the campaign.
They currently sit 19th in the league table with just one victory from their opening five matches, which is something that has led them being under pressure at this stage.
Much like their Sunday’s hosts, Lanus lost to Independiente del Valle in the Copa Sudamericana, despite Tomas Belmonte equalising for his team in the 60th minute. They failed to hang on in that game, conceding in the 93rd minute, suffering their second successive defeat.
Union vs Lanus head to head
The two teams have previously met on 22 occasions, where Union have claimed six victories while Lanus have won nine, and they have drawn in seven. Union have scored 23 goals and conceded 30 in the process. In their last five meetings, Lanus have won one, Union three with one draw.
Union 3-0 Lanus 16/03/19
Union 1-2 Lanus 25/08/19
Union 2-0 Lanus 30/12/20
Union 3-2 Lanus 02/03/21
Lanus 1-1 Union 31/07/21
Union latest home form
Union have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just one of their six most recent matches. They lost 5-1 to River Plate in their last home form in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded nine.
Union 1-2 Defensa y Justicia 03/05/22
Union 2-0 Oriente Petrolero 06/05/22
Union 0-0 Fluminense 20/05/22
Union 1-2 Tigre 05/06/22
Union 1-5 River Plate 20/06/22
Union latest away form
Union lost their last away game 2-0 to Nacional in the Copa Sudamericana. However, they have recently been on a good run of form on the road, as they have been unbeaten in their four previous matches. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded six.
Junior 0-4 Union 27/05/22
Colon 2-2 Union 12/06/22
Barracas Central 1-2 Union 15/06/22
Boca Juniors 1-2 Union 25/06/22
Nacional 2-0 Union 29/06/22
Lanus latest home form
Lanus have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their seven most recent matches. They managed to defeat Colon 1-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded three.
Lanus 1-0 Independiente 01/05/22
Lanus 1-2 Wanderers 20/05/22
Lanus 1-0 Metropolitanos 26/05/22
Lanus 1-1 Defensa y Justica 11/06/22
Lanus 1-0 Colon 19/06/22
Lanus latest away form
Lanus have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having lost each of their three most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Independiente Valle in their last away game in the Copa Sudamericana. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded nine.
Central Cordoba SdE 3-3 Lanus 10/05/22
Rosario Central 0-0 Lanus 07/06/22
Atletico Tucuman 2-1 Lanus 15/06/22
River Plate 2-1 Lanus 26/06/22
Independiente Valle 2-1 Lanus 01/07/22
Union news
Despite getting on the scoresheet in the most recent league match, Troyanski will not be available on Sunday after he was sent off in the final minute of that game.
Ezequiel Canete is likely to start upfront for Union, with Matias Gallegos being an option to partner him to provide some attacking threats.
Lanus news
Lanus will head into the contest without Alexandro Bernabei, as the left-back has recently signed for Celtic, with his future being in Scotland.
Matias Perez will not be an option at the back after he was sent off in their most recent league match, with Brian Aguilar also having received two yellow cards.
Prediction and Odds
Both teams head into the contest off the back of defeats in their most recent matches, providing them with plenty of desire to get back to winning ways.
Union have shown their qualities throughout the season and even though Lanus are in desperate need of points, we back the hosts for a win.
Odds: 1 1.90 X 2.00 2 2.20
Probable outcomes
Union 1-0 Lanus
Union 2-0 Lanus
Union 2-1 Lanus
Union 0-0 Lanus
Union 1-1 Lanus