Avellaneda on edge: Independiente and Racing clash in another derby | OneFootball

Independiente and Racing will face off from 5:30 PM at the Libertadores de América-Ricardo Enrique Bochini Stadium on Matchday 13 of the 2026 Apertura Tournament. Both teams are coming off qualification to the Copa Argentina round of 32 and now meet in an Avellaneda derby that will be decisive for both. Check out the lineups, where to watch it live, and more.

How Independiente and Racing are coming into the Apertura Tournament clash

El Rojo is coming off a 4-2 win over Atenas de Río Cuarto in the first round of the Copa Argentina in Florencio Varela and will now have to face Unión de Santa Fe, who did the same against Agropecuario last Monday. Beyond the win, Independiente fans targeted their players with the chant: “If you don’t beat Racing, all hell is going to break loose”.

This is because the Rey de Copas’ campaign in the league has been inconsistent, with three wins, five draws, and three losses. Those results leave Independiente eighth in Zone A with 14 points, and they are on a three-match winless run, so the team is expected to step up in the derby and not lose further ground in the race to qualify for the Apertura round of 16. In fact, El Rojo is in the playoff zone thanks to a better goal difference than San Lorenzo and Platense, who have the same number of points.

For their part, Racing edged past San Martín de Formosa thanks to a goal from Adrián Martínez and reached the Copa Argentina round of 32, and in the next round they will face the winner of Defensa y Justicia vs. Chaco For Ever, who will meet this Wednesday afternoon.

In the domestic tournament, La Academia managed to steady the ship after a dreadful start and sits fourth in Zone B with 18 points, while also being unbeaten in eight matches, with their last loss coming against Tigre in early February. If they win, Gustavo Costas’ team will move into second place behind Independiente Rivadavia, who have 23 points.

On top of that, Racing will make its Copa Sudamericana debut next week away to Independiente Petrolero on Tuesday, April 7, in Sucre, Bolivia. The bad news for La Academia ahead of the derby was the injury to Gabriel Rojas, who tore his right hamstring while with the Argentina national team during the FIFA international break, and Costas will be without one of his best players for the visit to Independiente.

Independiente’s likely starting XI vs. Racing, for the Apertura Tournament Rodrigo Rey; Santiago Arias, Kevin Lomónaco, Sebastián Valdez, Facundo Zabala; Lautaro Millán, Iván Marcone, Ignacio Malcorra; Santiago Montiel, Gabriel Ávalos and Ignacio Pussetto. Head coach: Gustavo Quinteros.

Racing’s probable lineup vs. Independiente, for the Apertura Tournament Facundo Cambeses; Ezequiel Cannavo, Marco Di Cesare, Marcos Rojo, Agustín García Basso; Santiago Sosa, Alan Forneris or Baltasar Rodríguez, Adrián Fernández, Santiago Solari, Adrián Martínez and Tomás Conechny. Head coach: Gustavo Costas.

Independiente vs. Racing, for the Apertura Tournament: where to watch live and match info Time: 5:30 PM TV: ESPN Premium and TNT Sports Referee: Leandro Rey Hilfer VAR: Germán Delfino

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