Torneo Inicial Betting: Both teams can score in River v Lorenzo

River Plate's Rogelio Funes Mori

River Plate host San Lorenzo in Sunday's big Torneo Inicial clash and our man Ed Malyon believes we could see at least one goal for each side...

In Spain, there is the big two. For many years in England, people spoke of the big four. In Argentina, there are cinco grandes - a big five.

River Plate and Boca Juniors are the most obvious, but Avellaneda pair Racing Club and Independiente are also included, as are San Lorenzo de Almagro. Whenever two of these Buenos Aires-based sides come together, it is considered a clsico, and when the two biggest - River and Boca - meet, it is therefore the superclasico.

This weekend sees San Lorenzo travel to River in the first of these clashes for either side this season, and both sides are looking to avoid relegation. The complicated Argentine league system decides who goes down on a three-year rolling points average system. Confused? You will be.

San Lorenzo have had such a bad couple of seasons that they currently find themselves in the relegation zone - with an average of 1.203 points per game. Having been in the top flight for all three of the years taken into account, any points they do get are divided by more matches, meaning that each win they get is less value than a win is for River - due to their points being only divided by the games of one season.

River's slate was wiped clean on relegation, so now they are back up and with six points from a possible nine, they are second on the average points table, but as the season goes on they will drop and could also find themselves in the mix.

Understand? Good.

Basically, San Lorenzo are in trouble, and this prompted them to change manager late last season. Ricardo Caruso Lombardi is not a popular man, but he has come in and bought huge amounts of players, and good ones at that. Juan Mercier, Martin Rolle, Franco Jara and Denis Stracqualursi are all proven performers at this level, but they're yet to click, and they were poor last time out against Estudiantes, and neither of their other results carry much merit with them.

They have also lost captain Leandro Romagnoli to a long-term injury, meaning that more new faces will be thrown together for the trip to El Monumental.

River suffered a shock defeat on the opening day, but it was a game that they dominated. Since then they have won two from two, including a win at the same Estudiantes side that beat San Lorenzo last week. Against Estudiantes, the pace of Rogelio Funes Mori exploited a high defensive line, and he could be partnered by the enduring class of David Trezeguet.

The Millionarios weakness was up front, but they have since signed Carlos Luna and Rodrigo Mora to give them a top-notch attacking roster. The sale of Lucas Ocampos was not ideal for them on the pitch, but Ariel Rojas and Carlos Sanchez will now occupy the wide positions and are more than proven at this level. Ezequiel Cirigliano can be expected to start despite the fact that club president Daniel Passarella is in Italy to negotiate his possible transfer with Napoli and Fiorentina.

Match odds

River Plate are 2.1211/10 for this one, and they always attract a lot of blind backing from punters that have heard the name and assume they will win. With this match, they may just get lucky, as the home side are beginning to look a good, settled unit, and are up against a San Lorenzo that are yet to really get going.

The visiting Cuervos have a strong squad following the off-season, but while they will be a very good outfit if these players gel, it is not something there has been much evidence of yet.

Goals

The market is strongly behind the unders, and given the trend in Argentine football over the past year or so this is little surprise. While River have scored plenty this season, San Lorenzo have struggled a bit. Nonetheless, with Ramiro Funes Mori expected to start at left-back, Julio Buffarini - one of the best widemen in the league - should have a productive day, ditto if the hosts play a back three. Both teams to score at 2.01/1 is likely.

Other bets

The most tempting of the correct score options is the 2-1 at 9.28/1, which will most likely be tradeable. River should come out on top, but they have scored four of their six goals in the second halves of games this season, so a tempting price is the 5.39/2 on offer for Draw/River Plate in the HT/FT market.