Where to watch Estudiantes x Central Córdoba in Group A of the Torneo Apertura
Estudiantes de La Plata faces Central Córdoba (Santiago del Estero) this Monday, March 23, at 7pm (local time of Pincha occupies second place in Grupo A with 18 points and seeks to maintain its position close to the top of the table. The visitor has 12 points and is fighting to get closer to the knockout classification zone.
The home team comes from a 2-1 victory over Gimnasia Mendoza and maintains a solid defense, with few goals conceded in the competition. Central Córdoba beat Deportivo Riestra 1-0 in the previous round, but has presented offensive irregularities throughout the season.
The confrontation pits a team that bets on defensive consistency and home advantage against an opponent that alternates between good and bad results. The match takes place at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, with a capacity for around 32 thousand fans, and is broadcast on ESPN Premium and Disney+.
Probable lineups and absences
Estudiantes must line up Fabricio Iacovich in goal, with Eric Meza, Leandro González Pirez, Tomás Palacios and Eros Mancuso in defense. In midfield, Ezequiel Piovi, Mikel Amondarain and Alexis Castro form the base, while Tiago Palacios, Guido Carrillo and Edwin Cetré make up the offensive sector. The team has not recorded significant recent absences and has a full squad for the duel.
Central Córdoba features Alan Aguerre as goalkeeper, with Santiago Moyano, Juan Pablo Pignani, Alejandro Maciel and Facundo Mansilla on the defensive line. Matías Vera, Juan Cardozo and Lucas González play in the middle, and Horacio Tijanovich and Michael Santos lead the attack. The visitor also arrives without serious absences and seeks to repeat their recent performance in away games.
The formations prioritize balance, with Estudiantes exploring quick transitions and Central Córdoba betting on counterattacks.
Estudiantes recent performance
The current Argentine champion started the 2026 season with an unbeaten record until the seventh round, recording four wins and three draws. The team suffered two consecutive defeats against Vélez Sarsfield and Lanús, which took them off the top of the table. The most recent 2-1 victory over Gimnasia Mendoza put Pincha back in second place behind Grupo A.
The defense stands out as one of the strong points, with few goals conceded in home games. Jogadores like Guido Carrillo and Tiago Palacios contribute with decisive goals, while the midfield offers good ball flow.
The performance at home is high, and the support of the fans in La Plata should put pressure on the opponent from the beginning.
Central Córdoba’s situation in the competition
Central Córdoba had a difficult start, with just one victory in the first six rounds and just one goal scored in that period. The team has improved in the last five matches, with a loss to Independiente, wins over Talleres and Deportivo Riestra, and draws with Tigre and Defensa and Justicia.
With 12 points, the team occupies 11th place in the Grupo A and needs to add points to escape the bottom of the table. The attack is still the most vulnerable sector, but the defense has shown greater consistency in recent games.
The Santiago del Estero team seeks to surprise away from home and score against one of the favorites for the title.
Home factor and recent history of clashes
Estudiantes has a historical advantage in recent direct duels, having won most of the matches played in La Plata. The home team makes good use of the support of the fans and defensive solidity to control the actions.
Central Córdoba fluctuates in away matches, but achieved positive results in some difficult games. The history shows balanced matches, with few goals on average.
The field command and current form favor Estudiantes, who should impose pace from the first minutes.
Broadcast and arbitration
The game will be refereed by Nicolás Ramirez, with VAR under the command of Álvaro Carranza. The match will be shown live on ESPN Premium and streaming on Disney+ for the Argentine public.
Fans can follow the plays in real time through the official Liga Profesional platforms.
The expectation is for a closely contested duel, with Estudiantes looking for the three points to put pressure on the leader and Central Córdoba fighting for recovery in the table.
