Central head to La Plata chasing points and a much-needed morale boost

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·25 February 2026

Central head to La Plata chasing points and a much-needed morale boost

El Canalla visits El Lobo this Wednesday at 5 PM for the seventh round, just four days before the clash against Newell’s at the Coloso. Fernando Echenique will referee the match.

Central visits Gimnasia this Wednesday from 5 PM at the Juan Carmelo Zerillo stadium in La Plata, for the seventh round of the 2026 Apertura Tournament, but the team is already starting to think about the upcoming Rosario derby next Sunday against Newell’s at the Coloso Marcelo Bielsa.

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Although coach Jorge Almirón has not yet confirmed the lineup for the match against El Lobo, it is possible that he will rest some of the usual starters.

Beyond the derby, this afternoon’s match is very important for El Canalla in terms of regaining ground in the standings and also confidence after losing at home to Talleres.

There are three important names who could miss the match against El Lobo: defenders Gastón Ávila and Agustín Sández, and central midfielder Franco Ibarra. The first two are dealing with injuries, and the third has accumulated four yellow cards and, if he gets another in La Plata, will be suspended for the derby.

The name that draws all the attention is, without a doubt, Ángel Di María. The coaching staff’s idea is for him to get some minutes to maintain his rhythm, although it’s possible he could be substituted in the second half if the match allows, giving other players a chance.

On the other hand, it has been confirmed that Marco Ruben is not on the list of called-up players. As a result, this opens up new speculation regarding the match against Newell’s.

It’s worth remembering that Alejo Véliz and Enzo Copetti, two of the starting forwards, finished with some discomfort against Talleres at the Gigante. It’s still undecided whether they will get minutes in El Bosque in La Plata. Fabricio Oviedo is even being considered as a possible starter.

Gimnasia is fourth in Zone B and remains unbeaten in La Plata, so on paper, it won’t be an easy match for the auriazul side, who are looking to climb the standings and arrive at the city derby with a morale boost, after their defeat in Arroyito against Talleres.

At home, Fernando Zaniratto’s team has beaten Racing and Aldosivi, and drew the derby with Estudiantes. They also come from defeating Gimnasia in Mendoza and have accumulated 10 points in the Apertura. The coach could repeat the lineup.

Probable lineups

Central: Jeremías Ledesma; Emanuel Coronel, Ignacio Ovando, Gastón Ávila, Alexis Soto; Federico Navarro, Vicente Pizarro; Enzo Giménez, Ángel Di María, Julián Fernández; Copetti or Oviedo. Coach: Jorge Almirón.

Gimnasia: Nelson Insfrán; Alexis Steimbach, Renzo Giampaoli, Enzo Martínez, Pedro Silva Torrejón; Ignacio Miramón, Augusto Max, Nicolás Barros Schelotto; Ignacio Fernández, Marcelo Torres, and Manuel Panaro. Coach: Fernando Zaniratto.