After La Plata setback, Racing eye upset against Di María's Central | OneFootball

El Canalla and La Academia will face off this Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. at the Gigante de Arroyito, battling for a place in the championship semifinals.

Rosario Central and Racing will star in one of the most attractive matchups of the 2026 Torneo Apertura quarterfinals this Wednesday. The match will be played starting at 6:45 p.m. at the Gigante de Arroyito and will determine the semifinal opponent for the winner between River and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.

El Canalla comes in strengthened after a great comeback against Independiente. Jorge Almirón’s team started at a disadvantage after a goal by Gabriel Ávalos, but reacted quickly and ended up winning 3-1 in front of their home crowd.

The standout player of the afternoon was once again Ángel Di María, who scored a brilliant goal to spark the comeback and was decisive in the team’s attacking play. Then youngsters Giovanni Cantizano and Elías Verón stepped up to seal qualification.

After the win, Di María left a remark that quickly caused a stir: “There are people who talk too much and end up involving players who have nothing to do with it”, referring to various comments that had been circulating around the squad in recent days.

On the other side will be La Academia, who managed to catch their breath when they needed it most. Gustavo Costas’s team was going through a serious footballing crisis and came in shaken after a negative run that triggered internal and external criticism.

However, the Avellaneda side earned a key victory over Estudiantes de La Plata at UNO and booked their place among the tournament’s final eight. When the match seemed headed for extra time, Santiago Sosa appeared with a header to secure qualification and change the squad’s mood.

After the victory, Costas also chose to send a message behind closed doors at the club: “They always want to divide you to weaken you”, said the coach, who also called for unity amid the criticism the team has received in recent weeks.

Racing had won just one of their last nine official matches, and both the club’s leadership and the players had been under fire from the fans. That is why the victory in La Plata meant much more than a simple qualification.

Now, at a Gigante de Arroyito that promises to be rocking, Central and Racing will be playing not only for a place in the semifinals, but also for the chance to confirm their respective recoveries at a decisive moment in the season.

Probable lineups, time, TV and officiating

Rosario Central: Jeremías Ledesma; Emanuel Coronel, Ignacio Ovando, Gastón Ávila, Agustín Sández; Franco Ibarra and Vicente Pizarro; Enzo Giménez, Guillermo Fernández, Ángel Di María; Enzo Copetti. Coach: Jorge Almirón.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.