Estudiantes vs Union
Estudiantes drew 2-2 at home against Argentinos Juniors and finished seventh in the 2024 aggregate table but managed to secure two titles during the year: the Copa Liga Profesional in May and the Trofeo de Campeones in December, with a 3-0 victory over Velez Sarsfield to close out the season. The team lost just one of their last 12 matches in this competition (four wins and seven draws), but they are winless in their last four home games, with three draws and one loss. The club signed Cristian Medina (Boca Juniors) and Lucas Alario (SC Internacional, Brazil), while Enzo Perez and Luciano Lollo left the team (to River Plate and Newell’s Old Boys, respectively). Estudiantes thrashed CA Racing from Uruguay 5-0 at home in their only friendly game last weekend. Unión Santa Fe finished tenth in the 2024 aggregate table after a valuable goalless draw at Defensa y Justicia, securing a spot in the Copa Sudamericana. They achieved this despite a dip in form toward the end of the year, with one win, one draw, and three losses in their last five. In fact, El Tatengue earned just one point from their last 12 available away from home, even failing to score. Adrian Balboa (sold to Racing Club), Joaquin Mosqueira (Talleres), Simón Rivero, Nicolas Orsini (both stll looking for a club), and Miguel Torren (Bolivar, Bolivia) will be missed, but Franco Fragapane (from Minnesota United, MLS) and Mauricio Martínez (Rosario Central) returned. Additionally, the club signed José Angulo (Delfín SC, Ecuador) and Ezequiel Ham (Independiente Rivadavia). Estudiantes surprised during the offseason adding two important players like playmaker Cristian Medina who won’t be available today and a top striker like ex River Lucas Alario. They are coming from a strong year and should have a good one here so a debut at home vs Union who lost important players like their best strikers Orsini and Balboa should be one they can win.