Estudiantes – Gimnasia
Estudiantes paid the price for head coach Alexander Medina’s decision to rest almost all of his regular starters last weekend, as the team produced a poor performance and lost 2-0 away to Deportivo Riestra. As a result, Estudiantes remain on three points after four rounds of the Torneo Clausura and have lost four of their last five league matches, winning just one. That run has prevented them from moving closer to the Copa Libertadores qualification places in the overall standings, as they are three points behind third-placed Vélez Sarsfield. At home, Estudiantes won their last league match, beating Defensa y Justicia 3-0 to end a three-match winless run in domestic competitions (one draw and two defeats). Before their next Torneo Clausura fixture, Estudiantes drew 1-1 at home against Universidad Católica on Tuesday, August 11, in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16. Gimnasia LP are in the best possible form heading into the derby. On Sunday afternoon, they produced another excellent performance to beat Barracas Central 2-0 at home, with goals from Agustín Colazo and Franco Torres. El Lobo recorded their third consecutive victory in the Torneo Clausura, moving onto nine points and second place in Group B. They are also strengthening their chances of qualifying for an international competition: they currently occupy a Copa Sudamericana qualification place and are just three points behind the Copa Libertadores places in the overall standings. The big La Plata derby comes at the worst timing for Estudiantes: they are in poor form and in the middle of the Copa Libertadores Round of 16, with a trip to Chile next week after the draw in the 1st leg at home. It’s the opposite for Gimnasia who are fully focused on this game and playing well so I expect them not to lose.