Independent’s Road Game Record and the Santiago Del Estero Challenge
El Rojo has not earned a win away from home during the Zielinski era, and a chance to flip the script arrives as they head to Ferrovario in Santiago del Estero. The upcoming clash tests the team’s resolve to deliver consistent performances on the road and to show that past away results do not dictate future outcomes — a simple idea with big implications for the season.
Road form has been a persistent challenge. Since the start of Leandro Stillitano’s tenure, the side has not secured an away victory. The lone win away from home happened when Stillitano first took charge, a victory over Talleres that remains a bright spot in a dry spell. Since then, both under Stillitano and later under Ricardo Zielinski, away wins have been elusive. The most recent away performance with Avellaneda ended in a draw after a late stalemate with Gimnasia, underscoring the difficulty of turning away trips into three points.
Home form did not ease nerves either. A defeat at home to Newell’s raised tensions as the season hit a critical point with relegation fears resurfacing. To move out of the danger zone, El Rojo now travels to Central Córdoba in Santiago del Estero, with a Sunday night kickoff. The trip is framed as more than a tactical test; it is a mood changer, a chance to reanchor confidence after a setback and restore momentum for the run-in.
THE CALLED INDEPENDENT
After a suspension kept him out for a match, a key midfield presence returns. Sergio Ortiz is back in the fold, rejoining the rhythm that has made him a dependable figure this season. Ortiz’s return highlights how a single veteran can anchor the middle, stabilize transitions, and provide a steadying influence for teammates in tight matches.
On the other side, Luciano Gomez will miss the upcoming fixture after reporting discomfort in the loss against Leprosy. Medical checks confirmed a hamstring contracture in his right leg. Gomez’s absence is a blow to the squad, especially in attack where his movement and link-up play had begun to show genuine chemistry with teammates around the final third.
THE TRAINING OF INDEPENDENT
Ahead of the clash, there is ongoing experimentation on the right side. The head coach has been evaluating reliable options, with Baltazar Barcia featuring in midfield roles in recent games after previously shifting him to the wing. The evolving lineup suggests a preference for a traditional 4-4-2 or a variant that maintains balance with width and compactness through the middle, depending on the opponent and tactical plan for the night.
With Ortiz back, the midfield could line up as Ortiz, Martin Marcone, and Braian Martinez in a central axis that supports a broader plan. If the system sticks with a 4-4-2, Martin Sarrafiore might operate on the left flank, offering pace and crossing options while preserving defensive discipline. The anticipated starting XI aims for a balance of experience and youth, with Rodrigo Rey in goal and a back four of Baltasar Barcia, Cristian Baez, Edgar Elizalde, and Ayrton Costa. In the middle, the trio of Ortiz, Marcone, and Sarrafiore would look to control tempo, while the forwards, Martin Cauteruccio and Matias Gimenez Rojas, would aim to convert created chances into goals.
ALTERNATIVE
To confirm.