The new season of the Argentine top flight kicks off with an intriguing clash between Argentinos Juniors and Sarmiento de Junín at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. The home side, known as “El Bicho,” come into this campaign after a remarkable previous season in which they finished among the top three in the annual table and reached the Copa Argentina final, securing a spot in the upcoming Copa Libertadores. However, they will not be at full strength for this opening fixture due to five injuries, including the absence of Paraguayan midfielder Juan Cardozo. Reinforcements such as defender Francis Mac Allister and midfielder Damián Batallini have joined to strengthen the squad.

Argentinos Juniors’ Recent Form and Key Stats

Argentinos Juniors have shown consistency and resilience in recent months. Their last five matches produced three wins, one draw, and one defeat, with an average of 1.2 goals scored and only 0.6 conceded per game. The team’s defensive solidity has been a major factor in their success, especially at home, where they remain unbeaten in their last 15 matches. Impressively, they have also avoided trailing at half time in any of those games, winning the first half in their last three home fixtures.

Low-scoring encounters have been a common theme for the Buenos Aires side. At least one team failed to score at half time in 37 of their last 40 matches, and under 0.5 goals were recorded in three of their last 15 home league games. Their most recent outing ended in a 1-1 draw against Midland on January 22, 2026, a result that extended their solid pre-season form. Ranked 8th in the Liga Profesional de Fútbol standings, Argentinos Juniors will look to build on their strong home record to start the new campaign with a victory.

Sarmiento’s Recent Form and Key Stats

Sarmiento de Junín approach this match with the goal of improving on last season’s struggles. The “Verde” managed to avoid relegation thanks to a late surge, going unbeaten in their final three matches of the previous campaign. However, their overall performance throughout the year revealed weaknesses, particularly in attack. The team has undergone significant changes during the transfer window, losing experienced figures such as Lucas Pratto and Facundo Roncaglia, while adding new faces like Jonatan Gallardo and José Devecchi, along with several returning loanees.

In terms of recent form, Sarmiento have recorded one win, three draws, and one defeat in their last five matches, averaging 0.8 goals scored and 1.0 conceded per game. Their last competitive fixture was a 1-1 draw against San Lorenzo on November 15, 2025. Away from home, they tend to be involved in tight, low-scoring contests: under 3.5 goals have been scored in each of their last 11 away league matches, and under 1.5 goals at half time in all of them. Moreover, at least one team failed to score at half time in 30 of their last 32 league games, underlining their cautious approach.

Argentinos Juniors vs Sarmiento Analysis and Prediction

Historically, meetings between Argentinos Juniors and Sarmiento have been balanced and low-scoring. Their last head-to-head ended 0-0 on August 8, 2024, and across the last five encounters, Argentinos have one win, two draws, and two defeats, averaging just 0.4 goals scored and 0.6 conceded per match. Both teams tend to rely on defensive organization rather than attacking flair, which often results in tight scorelines.

Given the statistical trends, this fixture is likely to follow a similar pattern. Argentinos Juniors’ unbeaten home streak and defensive reliability make them favorites, while Sarmiento’s conservative style and limited attacking output suggest they will focus on containment. The data also points to a low probability of both teams scoring, as well as a strong tendency toward matches with fewer than three goals.

• Argentinos Juniors unbeaten in last 15 home matches.


• Sarmiento under 3.5 goals in last 10 league matches.


• Both teams failed to score in most recent head-to-head (0-0).


• Win probabilities — Argentinos Juniors: 65%, Draw: 24%, Sarmiento: 11%.


• BTTS — Yes: 32%, No: 68%.


• Over/Under 2.5 — Over: 32%, Under: 68%.

All indicators suggest a tactical battle dominated by defensive discipline. Argentinos Juniors’ home advantage and superior form should give them the edge, but Sarmiento’s compact structure could make it difficult for the hosts to score freely. Expect a match defined by patience, few clear chances, and a narrow margin separating the sides.

Argentinos Juniors vs Sarmiento prediction from BetMines: Both Teams To Score – No (68% probability).