Estudiantes – Velez
Estudiantes do not seem to have felt the impact of the surprising and abrupt departure of their highly successful manager Eduardo Domínguez. On Wednesday night, in the debut of his replacement Alexander Medina, they looked solid and aggressive, taking advantage of Newell’s Old Boys’ poor form to secure a 2-0 away win, with goals from Tiago Palacios and Fabricio Pérez. As a result, El Pincha have caught Vélez Sarsfield at the top of Group A with 15 points, one behind Independiente Rivadavia, leaders of the annual standings, and have extended their unbeaten league run to 11 matches — recording seven wins and four draws in regular time. With only a few days of rest, Vélez Sarsfield could not sustain their usual tempo and had to settle for a frustrating goalless draw at home against Deportivo Riestra on Wednesday night. Even so, El Fortín are still enjoying an excellent Torneo Apertura campaign: they remain unbeaten with four wins and three draws, sitting at the top of Group A — now level with Estudiantes — on 15 points, one behind the aggregate-table leaders Independiente Rivadavia. Two of the three undefeated teams after 7 rounds meet here and I have to expect a good game between them. Estudiantes has their best striker Guido Carrillo back from injury and with Edwin Cetre also back in the starting lineup they make their best possible attack, Velez is a dangerous team as well so two goals are definitely possible.