Estudiantes La Plata — Defensa y Justicia : Match Preview and Prediction for September 23,2025

Estudiantes’ Home Dominance

Eduardo Dominguez’s squad represents a formidable force on their home turf. Estudiantes have secured victory in 10 out of their last 18 home matches. In the current Clausura campaign, the team also demonstrates strong performance at the “Jorge Luis Hirschi” stadium, ranking third in the league for the number of home wins over the past 10 rounds.

Navigating Recent Setbacks

Indeed, recent results in the championship and Copa Libertadores have been unfavorable, with the team suffering 3 consecutive defeats. However, the caliber of opponents should be considered: a narrow away loss to Flamengo (2:1) in the quarter-finals of the continent’s premier tournament, where Guido Carrillo’s late goal kept the tie alive, and a home defeat to River Plate (1:2). These high-stakes encounters against football giants indicate that Estudiantes remains in peak condition for top-tier matches.

Strategic Squad Management

Despite the upcoming second leg against the Brazilian side, the coaching staff is not planning to neglect the domestic championship. Experienced players such as Ramiro Funes Mori in defense, as well as Jose Sosa and Thiago Palacios in midfield, are expected to feature, capable of controlling the game’s tempo. Lucas Alario might start in attack, adding sharpness to the opponent’s goal. Although there are personnel losses in defenders Leandro Gonzalez Pires and Eric Meza, the squad depth allows Dominguez to find adequate replacements.

Defensa y Justicia’s Current Form

Defensa y Justicia approaches this away fixture in less than ideal form. In the last round, the team suffered a 1:2 home defeat to Platense, ending their unbeaten streak. Particularly concerning are the team’s away results: the ‘Hawks’ have failed to win on the road for 5 consecutive league games, one of the worst records in the division.

Defensive Vulnerabilities Away from Home

Defensive issues away from home are the primary concern for Mariano Soso’s coaching staff. Defensa ranks second in the Primera Division for most goals conceded away, with 15 goals in 9 rounds. Overall, the team has conceded 23 goals in their previous 15 tournament games, which is also among the highest figures. Such statistics point to serious systemic problems in their defensive play.

Key Player Absences

The situation is compounded by key player absences. Core first-team players, defender Lucas Ferreira and midfielder Cesar Perez, will be unavailable for the upcoming match. Additionally, rotation player Aaron Molinas is sidelined due to injury. The loss of two starting players responsible for defensive actions and central midfield significantly weakens the team’s potential.