Estudiantes welcome Central Cordoba to La Plata for a Primera Division clash at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi on Saturday.

The hosts are still well in the mix for a Copa Libertadores spot but must take advantage of some winnable home games for that to become a reality.

Match preview

Sitting just two points behind San Lorenzo in the final Libertadores place, Estudiantes will be targeting this fixture and their next home game against Racing Club as two games where they must pick up maximum points.

Their other final four games of the season all come against sides currently in a continental position in the Primera Division, including a trip to champions-elect River Plate.

A 12-game unbeaten run at home provides reasons for optimism, as that was kept up thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of Bolivian outfit Oriente Petrolero on Wednesday night in the Copa Sudamericana.

That win confirmed an unbeaten group stage where they were already ensured of a place in the knockouts, but they missed out on top spot behind Bragantino due to an inferior goal difference, so will have to go through the preliminary round.

However, that emphatic victory could prove to be a momentum booster after a run of just one win in five games which preceded it.

There are eight teams within just six points of San Lorenzo in third place, so the final six gameweeks should provide much entertainment as the continental positions are decided.

Central Cordoba will come into the fixture safe in the knowledge that relegation has been avoided once again.

Their cagey style of play has worked wonders for them so far this season, because even though only the bottom two have scored fewer goals than them, they are a comfortable distance away from trouble.

With six games to play, Cordoba are seven points clear of the drop, but the coefficient relegation system which is in play in the Primera Division incentivises clubs to continue to fight for points in the latter stage of the season.

Manager Leonardo Madelon has continued with his pragmatic approach in recent weeks and it has worked in picking up points, as two consecutive 0-0 draws have added to the board - the last of which came against Estudiantes' rivals Gimnasia La Plata.

Team News

Pablo Piatti remains out for Estudiantes with an ACL injury, as his return to Argentina after an impressive career in Europe continues to throw obstacles at the diminutive winger.

The hosts will also be without 22-year-old midfielder Gonzalo Pineiro, who has not featured since their matchday four win over Godoy Cruz back in February.

Cordoba will be without two of their veteran outfielders for the trip to La Plata, with Enzo Kalinski and Luis Rodriguez both injured.

Rodriguez has had a frustrating spell since arriving from Colon at the start of the year, as he is still yet to open his account for the club.

In his place, another veteran, 36-year-old Lucas Gamba, has led the line well but in an unorthodox manner, creating more goals than he has scored this season.

Goals from midfield therefore prove crucial for Cordoba, and Leandro Maciel has popped up with some important strikes recently, netting in the draw at Colon and their most recent win over Huracan.

Estudiantes possible starting lineup:
Andujar; Godoy, Lollo, Romero, Benedetti; Ascacibar, Rodriguez, Zuqui; Rollheiser, Boselli, Sosa

Central Cordoba possible starting lineup:
Mansilla; Jourdan, Blasi, Pereyra, Goni, Benitez; Farioli, Maciel, Pitton, Besozzi; Gamba

We say: Estudiantes 1-0 Central Cordoba

Estudiantes will expect to keep their lengthy unbeaten home run going here against a bottom-half outfit to maintain a push for Copa Libertadores qualification.

However, Cordoba have often proved a tough nut to crack, especially with three clean sheets in their last three games, so a win is unlikely to come easy.


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