Estudiantes vs Defensa y Justicia
Estudiantes’ struggles in the league are getting worse. Last weekend, the team were outplayed and fell 2-1 at home to River Plate, suffering their third defeat in the last four matches in the Torneo Clausura. As a result, they remain on 12 points — still enough to stay in the playoff zone but not enough to secure a spot in the international cups through the aggregate table. The loss also ended their four-match unbeaten home run in this competition (three wins and one draw). On Thursday, September 18, El Pincha lost 2-1 away at CR Flamengo for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals.
Defensa y Justicia wasted a big opportunity last weekend, falling 2-1 at home to Platense after taking the lead. That result ended their four-match unbeaten run in the league (two wins and two draws) and kept them from reaching the top of Group A: they remain on 12 points, three behind the leaders, and still far from the Copa Sudamericana qualification zone on the aggregate table.
Estudiantes will face Flamengo on Thursday in a must win game so here they will use a completely alternative lineup here that will include two debutants, so I have to go with Defensa to be able to at least hold to a draw.