Vélez Sarsfield

Match report

Velez Sarsfield kept their grip on the top half of the table with a 1:0 victory over Independiente in the third round of the Clausura phase of the Argentine Professional League. The match took place on 3 August 2026 and decided little beyond confirming the hosts were the stronger side on the day. To be fair, the result reflected the balance of play rather than any dramatic shift in momentum.

Yellow cards arrived early as the game tightened. D. Godoy and M. Gutierrez were booked inside the first half-hour, followed by G. Barros Schelotto on 47 minutes. And here's the thing — the match stayed scoreless until T. Aguirre found the net in the 70th minute, a moment that separated two evenly matched sides.

Substitutions came in waves as the hosts looked to manage the lead. M. Abaldo and L. Magallan went off together at the break, while M. Lanzini and M. Perez Curci were brought on later in the game. By then Independiente had thrown everything at it, but the visitors could not find a way through.

The statistics tell the story clearly enough. Velez held 54 per cent possession and created three big chances, while Independiente managed none. Shots accuracy was 33 per cent for the hosts compared to just 9 per cent for the visitors, and the expected goals figures — 0.89 versus 0.40 — confirmed that Velez were the more threatening side throughout.

The result moves Velez further clear in third place with 28 points from 16 games, six points above fifth-placed Independiente who remain on 24 points. For the visitors it ends a run of two wins and a loss in their last three matches, while the hosts have now won three of their last five outings.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 54 – 46

Shots on target 4 – 1

Shots off target 4 – 8

Expected goals 0.89 – 0.40

⇄ 27' L. Godoy — Substitution 🟨 42' D. Godoy — Yellow card 🟨 45+3' M. Gutierrez — Yellow card ⇄ 46' M. Abaldo — Substitution ⇄ 46' L. Magallan — Substitution 🟨 47' G. Barros Schelotto — Yellow card 🟨 53' S. Montiel — Yellow card ⇄ 57' M. Lanzini — Substitution ⚽ 70' T. Aguirre — Goal 🟨 72' M. Pellegrini — Yellow card ⇄ 76' M. Perez Curci — Substitution 🟨 85' S. Escobar — Yellow card ⇄ 86' M. Pellegrini — Substitution ⇄ 88' L. Robertone — Substitution

Match events

27' 0:0 Independiente Substitution L. Godoy off: S. Arias
42' 0:0 Vélez Sarsfield Yellow card D. Godoy
45+3' 0:0 Independiente Yellow card M. Gutierrez
46' 0:0 Independiente Substitution M. Abaldo off: F. Valdez
46' 0:0 Vélez Sarsfield Substitution L. Magallan off: E. Mammana
47' 0:0 Vélez Sarsfield Yellow card G. Barros Schelotto
53' 0:0 Independiente Yellow card S. Montiel
57' 0:0 Vélez Sarsfield Substitution M. Lanzini off: S. Escobar
70' 1:0 Vélez Sarsfield Goal T. Aguirre
72' 1:0 Vélez Sarsfield Yellow card M. Pellegrini
76' 1:0 Independiente Substitution M. Perez Curci off: M. Meza
85' 1:0 Vélez Sarsfield Yellow card S. Escobar
86' 1:0 Vélez Sarsfield Substitution M. Pellegrini off: L. Feler
88' 1:0 Vélez Sarsfield Substitution L. Robertone off: C. Baeza

Statistics

54 Possession, % 46

4 Shots on target 1

4 Shots off target 8

0.89 Expected goals 0.40

3 Big chances 0

115 Attacks 106

4 Corners 4

17 Fouls 13

12 Free kicks 15

2 Offsides 1

3 Yellow cards 2

0 Red cards 0

10 Goal kicks 3

13 Throw-ins 14

All statistics

19/4542% Aerial duels 26/4558%

63 Backward passes 46

4 Blocked shots 2

25 Clearances 28

4/2417% Crosses 4/1822%

11/2839% Dribbles 13/2162%

0.82 Expected assists 0.85

102 Failed passes 95

2 Goalkeeper saves 2

6 Interceptions 8

7 Key passes 9

30/7043% Long passes 25/5942%

101 Passes into the final third 91

292 Passes in the opposition half 249

172 Passes in own half 145

0.33 Shot accuracy 0.09

5 Shots from outside the box 6

7 Shots inside the box 5

14/2167% Tackles 13/2552%

440 Total passes 376

Line-ups

Starting XI
#	Player	number
1	Tomás Ignacio Marchiori Carreño	1
3	Elías José Gómez	3
4	Roberto Joaquín García	4
16	Lisandro Magallán	16
32	Thiago Silvero	32
8	Lucas Gastón Robertone	8
10	Diego Alfonso Valdés Contreras	10
11	Matías Pellegrini	11
22	Manuel Lanzini	22
29	Rodrigo Aliendro	29
15	D. Godoy	15

Substitutes
#	Player	number
34	Alvaro Busso	34
2	Emanuel Hernán Mammana	2
18	Simon Escobar	18
19	Léo Cristaldo	19
47	Alexis Pereira	47
5	Claudio Baeza	5
48	Luka Ferer	48
17	Alex Verón	17
30	Lautaro Piola	30
37	Juan Cruz Polisel	37
39	Thiago Aguirre	39

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Independiente

Starting XI
#	Player	number
33	Rodrigo Rey	33
13	Juan Manuel Fedorco	13
22	Facundo Gabriel Zabala	22
26	Kevin Joel Lomónaco	26
29	Leonardo Ezequiel Godoy	29
7	Santiago Gabriel Montiel	7
16	M. Perez Curci	16
19	Matías Ezequiel Abaldo Menyou	19
23	Iván José Marcone	23
28	Maximiliano Gutiérrez	28
9	Gabriel Ávalos Stumpfs	9

Substitutes
#	Player	number
1	Joaquín Blázquez	1
3	Jonathan de Irazusta	3
4	Santiago Arias	4
21	Fernando Kloster	21
35	Juan Miguel Araizago	35
10	Luciano Cabral	10
14	Lautaro Miljan	14
20	Facundo Cruz	20
32	David Martinez	32
8	Maximiliano Eduardo Meza	8
18	Facundo Valdes	18
34	Felipe Tempone	34

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