River Plate vs Banfield Prediction & Betting Tips (26 February)

River Plate welcome Banfield to the Estadio Más Monumental in a Liga Profesional Apertura clash that already feels important for both sides’ early‑season ambitions. The hosts arrive with seven points from their first five league games, mixing convincing home wins with some frustrating setbacks away from Buenos Aires. Banfield, on four points, have been more erratic, alternating between spirited performances and narrow defeats. With the calendar still in its opening phase, this meeting is a chance for River to underline their status as contenders and for Banfield to prove they can trouble one of the division’s heavyweights in a high‑pressure setting.

Recent weeks have shown a River Plate side still searching for full consistency but capable of imposing themselves at home. They edged Ciudad de Bolívar by 1-0, but also suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Argentinos Juniors and a heavy 1-4 loss against Tigre. A solid 2-0 victory over Gimnasia La Plata and a goalless draw at Rosario Central underline their defensive potential when focused. Team news has been significant lately, with key figures like Germán Pezzella sidelined by a cruciate ligament injury and other absences such as Centurión, affecting rotation options and forcing tactical tweaks in the back line.

Banfield’s last outings paint the picture of a team fighting for balance. They fell 0-2 at home to Racing Club and lost 1-0 away to Belgrano, but showed resilience by beating Estudiantes de Río Cuarto 2-1 and drawing 1-1 with Huracán. A narrow 1-0 defeat at Sarmiento highlighted their recurring difficulty in turning possession into clear chances. Their squad has also been hit by fitness issues in recent weeks, with players like Meza and several others dealing with knee or muscle problems, limiting continuity in the starting eleven and putting extra responsibility on attacking leaders such as Méndez and Gómez.

All of this recent form and news suggests a match where River Plate are likely to control territory while Banfield look for counterattacking moments and set‑piece opportunities. River’s home record, deeper squad and higher win probability tilt expectations in their favour, yet their occasional lapses and Banfield’s capacity to stay compact should keep the scoreline tight. With both sides having been involved in several low‑scoring encounters lately, a cautious, hard‑fought ninety minutes feels more probable than a shootout, and a narrow home victory by a correct score of 1 : 0 stands out as a realistic predict