**Estudiantes roll in as heavy favorites at home, but Gimnasia's scrappy form makes this trickier than the odds suggest.** 🔴

Estudiantes are bleeding talent with five players out, yet they've won their last two at the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata and hold the recent head-to-head edge. Gimnasia, meanwhile, are the definition of mixed bag — they've drawn with Boca and held Riestra, but also leaked two to Defensa y Justicia. This could be a cagey affair.

Key storylines:

- **Estudiantes' depth under pressure**: with J. Correa, R. Funes Mori, and three others sidelined, the attacking load falls on **A. Gaich** and the midfield
- **Gimnasia's defensive grit**: **E. Muñoz** and **D. Mondino** have kept things tighter lately — if they organize, Estudiantes won't steamroll
- **Home advantage matters**: Estudiantes unbeaten in their last two at this ground, and Gimnasia travel without a ton of firepower up top

Expected lineups:

- **Estudiantes de La Plata**: F. Muslera, G. Benedetti, S. Núñez, T. Palacios, E. Meza, A. Castro, J. Sosa, A. Gaich
- **Gimnasia y Esgrima Mendoza**: C. Rigamonti, M. Recalde, E. Muñoz, D. Mondino, L. Paredes, F. Antonini, J. Ceballos, A. Modica

Prediction:

**Estudiantes 2–0 Gimnasia y Esgrima Mendoza** — Slight favorite at home despite injuries; Gimnasia compact but unlikely to break through.