LA BANDA, Santiago del Estero (Interstat) — Sarmiento de La Banda and Sportivo Belgrano played to a 0-0 draw Sunday at Estadio Ciudad de La Banda in La Banda, Provincia de Santiago del Estero, leaving both teams still searching for their first victory of the competition. The home side and the visiting side each finished with 0 goals. Neither team found a breakthrough in a match that remained level from start to finish. The result gave both clubs a second draw in as many games in this competition, and it kept the two sides close in a matchup that had already been tight earlier in the season. Sarmiento de La Banda played in familiar surroundings, while Sportivo Belgrano made the trip as the visiting team and left with a share of the result.

Sportivo Belgrano’s season record in this competition is now 0 wins, 0 losses and 2 draws. Sarmiento de La Banda’s competition record is identical. Across all competitions, both teams also stand at 0 wins, 0 losses and 2 draws. The stalemate added another draw to the head-to-head series after the teams had also finished level in their previous meeting this season. In that earlier match, Sportivo Belgrano and Sarmiento de La Banda played to a 1-1 draw. That result and Sunday’s scoreless finish left both clubs unbeaten but without a victory. Neither side has been able to separate itself from the other in the early part of the campaign.

After a scoreless first half, both teams turned to their benches. Sportivo Belgrano made the first change in the 46th minute, and Sarmiento de La Banda followed in the 53rd minute. Sportivo Belgrano then made three changes in the 75th minute, while Sarmiento de La Banda made a change in the 79th. Sportivo Belgrano made another change in the 81st minute, and Sarmiento de La Banda made two changes in the 87th. The substitutions altered the shape of both sides but did not produce a goal. Sarmiento de La Banda and Sportivo Belgrano continued to trade possession in the closing stages, but the defenses held and the match ended without a score.

The draw left Sarmiento de La Banda and Sportivo Belgrano with matching records and no defeats, though neither side has yet broken through for a win. Sarmiento de La Banda remained at home for a result that mirrored its earlier draw against the same opponent. Sportivo Belgrano returned to the road with another share of the points. Both teams will continue their competition schedules with the same unbeaten but winless mark. The home side could not turn its venue advantage into a first victory, and the visiting side could not find a deciding goal despite its second-half changes.

The match remained compact throughout, with neither team able to capitalize on the spaces that opened after the substitutions. Sarmiento de La Banda and Sportivo Belgrano each finished the game with a clean sheet, and the scoreline reflected the balance between the sides. The result added another draw to both clubs’ early-season records and kept the head-to-head series level after the earlier 1-1 meeting. Neither team managed to score in the rematch, leaving the home crowd without a winning moment and the visitors with a solid defensive result.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Sarmiento de La Banda 1, Sportivo Belgrano 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Sarmiento de La Banda with a 76.3 percent probability to win. Sarmiento de La Banda had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 0 went over the over/under line of 1.75.