Monday will mark the first-ever meeting between Estudiantes and Deportivo Riestra in the Argentine Primera Division, with that match taking place at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi.
An early goal in their first match of the second phase was all El Leon needed to defeat Tigre 1-0, while Deportivo won by that same score and in similar fashion on matchday one of this round against San Lorenzo.
Match preview
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As disappointing as Estudiantes have been in the Copa Libertadores group stage thus far, they have looked relatively sharp through most of the domestic campaign.
Los Pincharratas have just one win after four matchdays in the Libertadores but have won four of their last five matches in this competition, currently level with River Plate for the lead in the overall table.
Estudiantes are unbeaten in their last five home matches versus Argentine opposition, posting three clean sheets over that stretch.
The side from La Plata did not lose a single game at home in the first phase of this competition when netting the opening goal, winning on all five of those occasions.
Throughout the Primera Division campaign, Eduardo Dominguez's men have often found a way to claim maximum points in close games, winning six of their eight matches in the first phase by a single goal.
They have a 100% record domestically in the Primera Division this season when netting multiple times while also collecting nine clean sheets.
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It took them over 90 years to finally make it into the top flight, and Deportivo Riestra held their own in the opening phase, claiming at least a point in half of their league contests (7/14).
Matias Modolo's side have built up a lot of momentum domestically over the past few months, losing just one of their last six matches in this competition (2-1 versus Gimnasia).
Meanwhile, they have collected at least a point away from home in two of their previous three league contests, winning their first top-flight fixture as the visitors in March (2-1 over Independiente Rivadavia).
A win on Monday would match their longest winning run in the top flight from earlier this season when they defeated Independiente Rivadavia (2-1) and Independiente (1-0).
Los Malevos de Pompeya have suffered just one defeat in the league when scoring the opening goal (2-1 to Velez Sarsfield) but also dropped seven points when netting the opener.
They scored a goal or fewer in six of their seven opening-round fixtures, failing to find the back of the net in three of those instances.
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Team News
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Javier Altamirano will not be available for Estudiantes until late May as the Chilean midfielder is recovering from a head injury.
A 10th-minute strike from Mauro Mendez was enough to give them all three points against Tigre in the opening match of this phase, with Matias Mansilla stopping two shots for the clean sheet.
Milton Celiz missed the opening match of this phase for Deportivo because of a red card suspension, with Leonardo Landriel taking his place on the left side of midfield against San Lorenzo, while Yeison Murillo, Pablo Monje and Gustavo Fernandez were the other newcomers in the starting 11.
Jonathan Herrera had the only strike in their first victory of the second round, as Ignacio Arce did not have to make a single stop to collect a clean sheet.
Estudiantes possible starting lineup:
Mansilla; Mancuso, Flores, Romero, N. Fernandez; Zuqui, Ascacibar, Zapiola; Palacios, Mendez, Manyoma
Deportivo Riestra possible starting lineup:
Arce; Murillo, Barrionuevo, Sansotre, Dematei; Rodriguez, Pereira, Monje, Ramirez; Brito, Herrera
We say: Estudiantes 3-0 Deportivo Riestra
Estudiantes were among the strongest backlines in the opening phase of this competition, while Deportivo have struggled against counteracting sides, and we expect the home team to expose that weakness in this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
