Estudiantes Host the Title Holders in the Only All Argentine Duel of This Round.

By: Mauro | September 23rd, 2008

Club Estudiantes de La Plata vs Arsenal Fútbol Club de Sarandí (Estadio Ciudad de La Plata “Unico”, La Plata, Argentina)

LIVE @ 5:30pm PST on Fox Sports Español. Gamecast here. Online TV here.

Estudiantes de La Plata qualified early on for the Round of 16 when they took on local Argentine side, Club Atlético Independiente in the first round, the first leg of which was one of the most exciting and evenly matched games of the competition so far. They face, in Arsenal de Sarandi, the reigning champions of this competition and their second consecutive Argentine side in the competition.

Estudiantes have a strong side and while they lost in the first leg, 1-2, to a very talented Independiente side and then won the the second leg, 2-1 and won qualification in the ensuing penalty shoot out. But since they qualified, all has not been rosy for Estudiantes.

They’ve been a bit irregular and have failed to register some results their team from a year ago would have won, but in that spell they did manage a 2-0 victory over their opponents tonight. Estudiantes are coming off a loss at the weekend to Racing in Avellaneda, 1-2. Racing couldn’t beat anyone in recent matches so this is a bit of burn for “El Pincha.” Still, they are hoping a win at home tonight will spring board them into the Clasico Platense on the good foot when they face bitter rival Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.

Estudiantes have also lost their talismanic coach, Roberto Sensini due to their poor stretch of results and form. Tonight’s match will be Leonardo Astrada’s first match in charge of Estudiantes as he comes from coaching River Plate, Rosario Central and Colón de Santa Fe. Even the heart and soul of the team, Juan Sebastián Verón, has said that he is considering retirement. Amidst all this, Estudiantes face a bit of adversity in this midweek match.

Arsenal are not the same side they were when Gustavo Alfaro coached this side to victory in last year’s competition. Then, this club characterized themselves for their great results as the away side, something I’m sure you’ve all noticed is quite the oddity in South American international football competitions.

This time around, Arsenal are a side that has been irregular in the local league but started off on the right foot in this competition, facing what might have been the sacrificial lamb of the competition, Honduran side CD Motagua. Trouncing the them 4-0 at home and beating them again in Honduras 2-1, this time with a few substitutes in the squad has let new coach Daniel Garnero exhale a bit in this tournament so far.

Arsenal are coming off a 3-2 win against Banfield in the local league and this coming weekend, they’ll face off against league leaders San Lorenzo.

With players like Facundo Sava, replacing the man his defenders will likely be marking tonight, José Luís Calderón, and Alejandro Gomez up front, a solid midfield with Guatemalan José Contreras, Javier Yacuzzi, Cristián Pellerano and Carlos Casteglione and tough back line with Colombian Josimar Mosquera, Darío Espinola and Anibal Matellán, Arsenal have a squad to play evenly with anyone in the Argentine Primera.

Bottom Line: Estudiantes are the walking wounded (alongside River Plate, but more on them later this week) in Argentina but both sides have had trouble finding the right formula for success. Arsenal may have the slight edge since they are the cup holders and may have little more pride to play for than Estudiantes.

My Pick: 1-1. I don’t see Estudiantes losing this one at home but I do see Arsenal getting an away goal. Could be 2-1 to Estudiantes but I’m sticking with the draw.

Feel free to check the CONMEBOL website for results and information about upcoming matches and for those of you in need of a bracket to get your heads around the competition, get one here.