Union Santa Fe — Defensa y Justicia : Match Preview and Prediction for October 22,2025

Union Santa Fe’s Current Form

Union Santa Fe approaches this match in a rather poor state. The team has failed to secure a victory in the for four consecutive rounds. Their recent results consist of two losses and two draws, clearly indicating a significant dip in performance.

Home Performance Struggles

Their home form is particularly worrying. Union has not managed a win on their home turf in six matches. In their last home league fixture, they suffered a 0-2 defeat to Aldosivi, despite maintaining 65% possession. This statistic highlights a critical issue: possession is not translating into tangible results. They created fewer dangerous opportunities (2 compared to their opponent’s 4), and their Expected Goals (xG) metric was notably lower (1.26 vs. 1.96).

Key Attacking Concerns

A central problem lies in their diminished attacking potential. Their primary striker, Marcelo Estigarribia, will miss his third consecutive start due to knee synovitis. Coach Leonardo Madelon is forced to reconfigure the attack, bringing in Agustin Colaso for his first start of the current championship. Such emergency adjustments rarely lead to positive outcomes, especially when facing a well-organized opponent.

Defensa y Justicia’s Strong Momentum

Defensa y Justicia, on the other hand, is at a completely different end of the spectrum. The team currently holds second place in Group A, just two points behind the leader, and a victory in this match would propel them to a clear first position. Their current form validates these ambitions: three consecutive matches without defeat, including impressive wins against Boca Juniors (2-1) and Argentinos Juniors (1-0).

Stable Squad and Adaptability

Unlike Union’s forced lineup changes, Defensa y Justicia faces no major squad overhauls. While there are some absences, the team has already demonstrated its ability to cope. For instance, defender Emanuel Aguilera, sidelined due to injury, was a rotational player who started in only two matches this season. Defensa has already played and won a match without him, which speaks to the depth of their squad.

Tactical Flexibility

Defensa y Justicia is a tactically flexible unit. In their victorious match against Argentinos Juniors, they maintained only 35% possession, yet this did not prevent them from securing three points. This capacity to play without the ball and efficiently convert their opportunities makes them a formidable opponent in away games, especially against a team struggling to create chances.