Racing travel to Río Cuarto in their worst shape in years, and the price still treats them as the clear side. They sacked Juan Pablo Vojvoda after blowing a two-goal lead against Boca in the Copa Argentina, interim coach Sebastián Romero takes his first game, and seven senior players are out injured. Estudiantes RC can barely score, but their home games rarely get away from them. Two blunt attacks meeting in a low-event game is the picture I'm backing.
Look at who's missing for Racing: Marcos Rojo and Marco Di Césare at the back, Matías Zaracho and Valentín Carboni in midfield, plus Barinaga, Córdoba and Forneris. Youth players from the reserves were called up to fill the squad. Lautaro Díaz is back, which helps, but the spine of the side is gone at the same time as the coach.
The form behind that is poor too. Racing won only once in five games under Vojvoda, lost all three league away games in that run and conceded seven in them. Over their last 20 they've won just five.
Estudiantes RC are bottom of Zone B with one league win, and they average half a goal a game. What stands out is how tight they keep things at home: one scored and three conceded in five home games, with two 0-0s and no home game going above two goals.
So a home win is a stretch, because Estudiantes RC rarely score. But a depleted Racing, led by a coach in his first game, also don't look like the side to break down a home team that keeps games this small. Level for long spells, few clear chances: that's where this match should land.
