Estudiantes vs Boca
Estudiantes coach Eduardo Dominguez fielded an alternative XI away at Sarmiento last weekend and the team clearly deflated their performance. They lost 3-1 and that means El Pincha are on two consecutive defeats in Copa Liga Profesional action. However, the side remain occupying into one of the playoff berths in group B, accumulating 18 points in ten rounds. Estudiantes lost 2-1 to Platense in their last home match, which broke a seven-match unbeaten streak of five victories and two stalemates at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi. On Wednesday 13, Estudiantes lost 2-1 to River Plate in the Supercopa Argentina final.
Boca Juniors produced an excellent recovery last Sunday to stay alive on their fight to enter the playoffs. The 4-2 home success over Racing Club means El Xeneize are now on 16 points in the Copa Liga Profesional, trailing fourth-placed Newell’s Old Boys in group B by one point after succumbing to a single defeat across the last four matches in this competition (along with two victories and one draw). On a sorry note, Boca are on three away games without a win, having taken a single point from nine available in that spell. Sergio Romero remains out injured and Javier Garcia, who replaced him last weekend, misses out too.
Estudiantes suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the Supercup against River but they will be looking at putting their minds on the league again where they need a couple more wins to secure a place in the playoffs. They will face a Boca that will need to use their 3rd goalkeeper, a young player that debuted last week in the final minutes vs Racing, and will have important missings like Figal in defense, and Ezequiel Fernandez in midfield so I’ll trust the hosts here to recover from the midweek defeat and beat this Boca that has been terrible playing away.