Estudiantes continue improving week after week. Last Sunday, the team reversed the score to beat Patronato 2-1 away thanks to goals from Francisco Apaolaza and Gustavo Del Prete. Ricardo Zielinski’s men made it 23 points (seven from the last nine on offer), having won six of their last nine games (along with two draws and a single defeat). Therefore, the team are three points behind league leaders and continue fighting for a Copa Libertadores’ spot (trailing River Plate by goal difference). At home, Estudiantes are on four games unbeaten, having won three and drawn one of those.

Platense are on three league games without a win (having taken only two points in that span) following their 0-0 home stalemate against Argentinos Juniors in an intense game last Sunday. Coach Leonardo Madelon left the club in agreement with the board earlier this week. The team are now level with Sarmiento and Patronato (above Huracan and Aldosivi) after collecting 11 points and only two victories in 12 rounds. El Calamar managed only five points in six games on away turf following one success, two draws and three defeats. Platense will have Claudio Sponton as interim boss on Friday.

Estudiantes has a perfect opportunity here to reach the top of the table with a win, and they should be able to get it against this Platense in crisis with an interim coach.

BET: Estudiantes -0.75 @ 1.93