Estudiantes vs Defensa y Justicia preview

Argentina flag 2026 Liga Profesional de Fútbol, Argentina
Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes Today - 9:00 PM
Liga Profesional de Fútbol
Estudiantes EST
Defensa y Justicia DEF
KICKOFF : Today - 9:00 PM
Round 3 2nd Phase

CONTEXT

Estudiantes prepare to host Defensa y Justicia at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in the second phase of the 2026 Liga Profesional de Fútbol. The home side carries a clear power advantage of 8.8 points and is identified as the stronger team overall. League positions show Defensa y Justicia slightly ahead in tenth place compared to Estudiantes in twelfth. Form scores highlight a notable gap with Estudiantes at 18.39 and the visitors at just 4.78. Both teams operate without recent outing details or recorded form streaks entering this fixture. Set piece and efficiency metrics remain unavailable due to limited xG data. The encounter offers a platform for Estudiantes to leverage their structural edge in a domestic league setting.

TL;DR

  • Structural: Estudiantes hold an 8.8 point power advantage as the stronger side.
  • Form: Estudiantes enter with a form score of 18.39 compared to Defensa y Justicia's 4.78.
  • Squad: League positions place Defensa y Justicia tenth and Estudiantes twelfth domestically.
  • Efficiency: Efficiency metrics remain unavailable for both teams in this fixture.
  • Transition: Transition data is not specified ahead of the match.
  • Set pieces: Set piece xG data is unavailable due to low confidence and proxy metrics.
  • xVariable: Estudiantes are positioned as the stronger team with a power score of 70.93.
  • Market: Baseline split: Estudiantes 0% (Δ+0%) | Draw 0% (Δ+0%) | Defensa y Justicia 0% (Δ+0%).
No standings statistics available.
No head-to-head records found.
0.5+ goals: 85%
1.5+ goals: 70%
2.5+ goals: 50%
3.5+ goals: 25%
Confidence: High (≥8 matches)

Quality vs Volume

Home: xG 1.8, Shots 12, xG/Shot 0.15
Away: xG 1.5, Shots 14, xG/Shot 0.11

Open Play vs Set Play

Open Play: 65%
Set Play: 35%

Expected Points

TeamxPts
Home1.8
Away1.2
ℹ️ Methodology: Expected Goals (xG) measures shot quality
Jan 25 vs Team A
Feb 1 vs Team B
Feb 8 vs Team C
Estudiantes A. Medina Reobasco
A. Medina Reobasco
VS
Defensa y Justicia J. Vaccari
J. Vaccari
1.69
Avg Points / Game (Last 100 Matches)
1.19
1.67 i
Last 6 Opponents
Independiente Rank: 68 L
Racing Club Rank: 72 L
Platense Rank: 62 W
Talleres Córdoba Rank: 64 D
Instituto Rank: 65 W
Unión Santa Fe Rank: 65 W
Avg Points / Game (Last 6 Matches)
0.67 i
Last 6 Opponents
Deportivo Riestra Rank: 62 W
Aldosivi Rank: 55 D
Gimnasia y Esgrima Mendoza Rank: 64 L
Boca Juniors Rank: 73 L
Independiente Rank: 71 L
Talleres Córdoba Rank: 64 L
2
Head to Head (Wins - Draws - Losses)
2 - 1 - 1
1
No sidelined player data available.

Team Power Ranking

i
What is Power Ranking?
Power ranking is SportMonks' model-based team strength indicator. Historical input capped to 2 seasons.
70.93
62.16
0 (Weakest) 100 (Strongest)
Metric
Estudiantes
Defensa y Justicia
Power Score
70.93
62.16
League Position
12
10
Global Rank
302
580

Form Analysis Opponent-Weighted

Line chart of recent results (points/trend). Friendlies excluded by default. Hover for opponent, result, xG/xGA and power ranking — based on last 6 matches.

–
vs
Estudiantes — Opponent-weighted form score
Defensa y Justicia — Opponent-weighted form score
Win (3 pts) Draw (1 pt) Loss (0 pts) Estudiantes Defensa y Justicia

Team Head to Head Last 6 Seasons

Summary of 4 matches between these sides — filtered by competition and venue context.

Estudiantes EST Home
4 matches
Defensa y Justicia DEF Away
Match Record
2
Wins
1
1
Draws
1
1
Losses
2
Goals
2
Goals Scored
1
1
Goals Conceded
2
+1
Goal Difference
-1
Expected Goals
0
xG
0
0
xGA
0

Data last updated: 2026-08-01T19:00:37+00:00

STARTING XI - EXPECTED

Match Formation 4-2-3-1
Match Formation 4-2-3-1
Pitch
N. Muslera Micol
16 N. Muslera Micol
E. Meza
20 E. Meza
S. Núñez
4 S. Núñez
T. Palacios
24 T. Palacios
G. Benedetti Taffarel
13 G. Benedetti Taffarel
G. Neves Perdomo
8 G. Neves Perdomo
L. Piovi
21 L. Piovi
T. Palacios
10 T. Palacios
A. Castro
22 A. Castro
J. Tobio Burgos
17 J. Tobio Burgos
G. Carrillo
9 G. Carrillo
M. Borgogno
1 M. Borgogno
M. Rodríguez
40 M. Rodríguez
E. Lucero
2 E. Lucero
D. Fernández
29 D. Fernández
L. Souto
33 L. Souto
C. Pérez Maldonado
8 C. Pérez Maldonado
S. Sosa Yung
15 S. Sosa Yung
J. Gutiérrez Freire
24 J. Gutiérrez Freire
D. Barbona
19 D. Barbona
A. Hausch
17 A. Hausch
L. Fernández
9 L. Fernández

General Information

Date & Time
Aug 01, 2026, 09:00 PM
Competition
2026 Liga Profesional de Fútbol, Argentina · Round 3 · 2nd Phase
Stadium
Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes
Capacity
32530
Pitch Surface
Grass
Weather
☀️ 12°C, Fair
Referees
Sebastián Nicolás Martínez
Pablo Acevedo
Juan Ignacio Rovelli Ricciardi
Guido Mascheroni

Expected Lineup

Referee : Sebastián Nicolás Martínez

Starting XI ▼

16
Fernando Muslera
Fernando Muslera Goalkeeper
7.02
9
Guido Carrillo
Guido Carrillo Centre Forward
6.97
21
Ezequiel Piovi
Ezequiel Piovi Defensive Midfield
6.94
22
Alexis Castro
Alexis Castro Attacking Midfield
6.86
24
Tomás Palacios
Tomás Palacios Left Back
7.12
4
Santiago Núñez
Santiago Núñez Right Back
7.03
8
Gabriel Neves
Gabriel Neves Defensive Midfield
6.94
10
Tiago Palacios
Tiago Palacios Right Wing
7.06
13
Gastón Benedetti
Gastón Benedetti Left Back
6.95
17
Joaquín Tobio Burgos
Joaquín Tobio Burgos Left Wing
6.93
20
Eric Meza
Eric Meza Right Back
6.82
Referee : Sebastián Nicolás Martínez

Starting XI ▼

1
Matías Borgogno
Matías Borgogno Goalkeeper
6.93
9
Leandro Fernández
Leandro Fernández Centre Forward
6.54
2
Samuel Lucero
Samuel Lucero Left Back
6.72
8
César Pérez
César Pérez Defensive Midfield
6.83
15
Santiago Sosa
Santiago Sosa Defensive Midfield
6.65
17
Agustín Hausch
Agustín Hausch Right Wing
6.81
19
David Barbona
David Barbona Attacking Midfield
6.86
24
Juan Gutiérrez
Juan Gutiérrez Left Wing
6.81
29
Damián Fernández
Damián Fernández Right Back
6.89
33
Lucas Souto
Lucas Souto Right Back
6.74
40
Máximo Rodríguez
Máximo Rodríguez Left Back

CONCLUSION

Estudiantes are expected to control proceedings through their superior power rating and form edge when facing Defensa y Justicia. The visitors sit marginally higher in the table yet trail significantly in recent performance indicators. With set piece and efficiency insights limited, the contest will likely hinge on open play execution and individual quality. Estudiantes can build on their structural strengths to dictate tempo at the venue. Defensa y Justicia must find ways to close the form gap and exploit any lapses in concentration. The match presents an opportunity for the home side to strengthen their standing while the away team looks to maintain competitiveness in the phase.