River Plate vs Rosario Central Predictions

Sunday’s Superliga Argentina action sees River Plate doing battle with Rosario Central at the Monumental. The hosts arrive as massive favourites to win the game and should be able to do exactly that without too many issues.

Whilst it would be easy for River to take their eyes off the domestic ball, with the chance to defend their Copa Libertadores tilte against Flamengo rapidly approaching; that’s not something Marcelo Gallardo’s troops will be looking to do. Indeed, without a league title since 2014, crowning themselves kings of Argentina is a big objective and that requires full focus in each and every match.

You certainly can’t accuse River of failing in that regard in recent weeks and they come into Sunday’s game with form strong and confidence high. Indeed, the side are unbeaten in 5 league matches, of which they’ve won 4 and currently sitting in 3rd place and just a point short of shock leaders Argentinos Juniors, the hosts have made a good start to the season overall.

Meanwhile, tension and pressure has been running high in Rosario Central ranks in recent weeks but a visit to a training session from the more hardcore element of the club’s support seems to have sprung the side into life. Indeed, Central picked up their first win in 10 attempts with a 5-2 mauling of Godoy Cruz last weekend and said victory has somewhat calmed the situation.

Nonetheless, hovering just above the drop zone on the average points table used to relegate sides, the visitors cannot afford to put their feet up again and a poor result in Buenos Aires on Sunday would see pressure well and truly return. However, a trip to River is never easy and Centra’s prospects of resisting the hosts don’t look the brightest, given they’ve kept a clean sheet in just 1 of their last 6 away games.

Ultimately, Saturday’s game is exactly the type of match River need to avoid dropping points in if they are to really push for the league title. On paper, they are stronger than Rosario Central in all areas of the pitch and will be looking to prove exactly that over the course of 90 minutes.

All things considered, we can’t picture River having any issues whatsoever in winning this game and like the look of backing them on the -1 handicap with maximum confidence. They’ve scored at least twice in 7 of their last 8 matches and saw off Central by a 2-0 margin the last time the two met at the Monumental and with that in mind, we believe a 2-0 home win could well be on the cards in this one.