Torneo TransiciГіn preview: Estudiantes and Independiente to strike gold

Federico Mancuello has nine goals this season

Match odds of 2.568/5 on Independiente probably underestimates their chances. They've been a far better side than Boca this season, and in the circumstances they are a firm back.

Estudiantes de La Plata vs Defensa y Justicia - Sunday 20:00

Estudiantes go into this game against struggling Defensa y Justicia as odds-on favourites, but there is a school of thought that says their 1.75/7 mark may even be a bit generous to their visitors, who don't appear to have the weaponry to get a result in La Plata.

The good news for newly-promoted DyJ is that with the Argentine league restructuring, they needn't fear relegation, and the fact that they are down the bottom and in fairly poor form actually won't make that much difference to them at the moment.

What that means for Estudiantes though is that instead of coming up against a relegation struggler battling for their lives they are hosting a tired side used to losing - especially on the road.

In fact, they have lost their last three games on the road without even scoring a goal and a trip to play Estudiantes is hardly the most likely place to improve that record.

With former Valencia and Liverpool centre-back Mauricio Pellegrino as coach, the club's defence has been hugely improved and this season only the top two - Racing and River - have a better backline. And it is fair to say that Estudiantes' defensive record would be superior if that same top two hadn't given them pastings. Against sides below that calibre they have looked very assured at the back.

Defensa have won their last two games to help juice Estudiantes' price, but their away form remains poor and, having fought for a narrow victory against Newell's on Thursday night, they will also be coming up against a more rested host on Sunday - not to mention better.

It may even be worth venturing over to the sportsbook to back Estudiantes to win to nil.

Recommended bet: Back Estudiantes to win at 1.75/7

Boca Juniors vs Independiente - Sunday 22:10

Sandwiched between two games against archrivals River Plate, Boca's game with Independiente has understandably taken a back seat.

And there is certainly scope for them to take their eye off the ball with visiting Independiente a clsico in it's own right but barely likely to register on their radar.

Thursday's Copa Sudamericana semi-final first leg was the biggest superclasico in a decade. These two great rivals went toe-to-toe for something of significance for the first time since their memorable Libertadores semi in 2004.

Carlos Tevez was the star that day ten years ago as Carlos Bianchi's Boca enjoyed a stretch of trophy-filled years and advanced past their most hated of adversaries after a penalty shootout.

This year, as with the past few seasons, Boca haven't been battling for honours and thus their continental campaign has taken on an extra significance.

With River Plate topping the Primera, they face the prospect of watching their archrivals win a second domestic title in six months, but beating them on the South American stage and reaching the final would go some way to clawing things back for their fanatical support.

So you can see why this weekend's game with local(ish) rivals Independiente has taken on less significance than usual, and Rodolfo Arruabarrena will undoubtedly be forced to rest players for the visit of el Rojo.

Boca would ever lie down for a game at La Bombonera but the fact remains that a win for Independiente puts pressure on River Plate at the top as the season reaches its conclusion.

With Racing Club meeting River in a first-v-second clash late on Sunday evening, it's a great chance for Omar Asad's men to go joint-top against a fringe Boca side.

Match odds of 2.568/5 for the away side still probably underestimates their chances, with the prolific Federico Mancuello leading their charge with nine goals from midfield this season.

They've been a far better side than Boca this season and in the circumstances they are a firm back.

Recommended bet: Back Independiente at 2.568/5