The Independiente team, with only one starting reinforcement, is preparing to face Sarmiento de Junín in the first round of the 2025 Professional Football League Apertura Tournament. The match will take place on Friday at the Libertadores de América - Ricardo Enrique Bochini Stadium in Avellaneda at 7:15 PM, with Sebastián Martínez refereeing and Andrés Merlos in VAR.
Among the reinforcements that have arrived at the 'Red' team are Sebastián Valdez, Luciano Cabral, and the Chilean Pablo Galdames, with Valdez being one of the eight signings in this transfer window. The coach would likely stick with the same eleven that started the thrashing in Montevideo, keeping Valdez as a partner for Kevin Lomónaco in the central defense, also highlighting the youth players Lautaro Millán and Diego Tarzia in the previous match.
The only uncertainty in Independiente's formation would be at left-back, where Adrián Spörle and reinforcement Álvaro Angulo are competing for a spot. However, initially, Angulo would have an advantage over Spörle in this match.
On the other hand, Sarmiento de Junín has strengthened with seven players seeking to improve their performance and move away from the danger zone in the averages. The team led by Julio Vaccari comes from winning 5-2 against Defensor Sporting from Uruguay in a previous friendly. Coach Javier Sanguinetti is preparing to face Independiente with a starting eleven led by Lucas Acosta in goal and Gabriel Díaz, Juan Manuel Insaurralde, Renzo Orihuela, and Alex Vigo in defense.
The match will be broadcasted on ESPN Premium, and an exciting encounter is expected between both teams looking to start the tournament on the right foot.
