Rosario Central’s unbeaten run and Ángel Di María boost before Corinthians tie | OneFootball

Corinthians visit Rosario Central at 21:30 tonight at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito for the Copa Libertadores last-16 first leg. The hosts arrive off a strong group stage and an 11-match home unbeaten run.

According to Meu Timao, Central qualified by topping Argentina’s 2025 accumulated table. In Group H with Independiente del Valle, Universidad Central and Libertad, they opened with a 0-0 at home to the Ecuadorians despite a man advantage, then won four straight against the others before losing away to Independiente del Valle, finishing on 13 points with nine scored and one conceded to place second on head to head.

Jorge Almirón’s side are unbeaten in four in all competitions. The run began on 26 July against Argentino de Rosario in the Copa Santa Fe, followed by a 0-0 at Racing, a 1-0 win at River Plate despite being a man down, and a 2-1 home victory over Aldosivi last Friday.

Before that, May brought a rough spell, with a semi-final exit to River in the Apertura, defeats to Independiente del Valle and 3-0 to Estudiantes in the Copa Argentina last 32, then a 2-1 loss at Belgrano on 23 July after the World Cup break. Pressure mounted on Almirón and the board even assessed Javier Mascherano before backing the coach for the knockouts.

At home in 2026, Central have 10 wins, four draws and two defeats from 16 matches, scoring 24 and conceding 10. They are unbeaten in 11 at the Gigante de Arroyito.

The squad has been bolstered by Axel Werner, Franco Cervi, Tomás Badaloni and Alan Rodríguez on loan from Internacional until June 2027. The headline is Ángel Di María’s extension to June 2027 after his deal expired on 30 June, the 38-year-old World Cup winner having returned from Benfica in May 2025.

Almirón is expected to continue in a 4-2-3-1, with Franco Ibarra and Vicente Pizarro shielding and Di María operating centrally. Expected XI: Ledesma; Coronel, Ovando, Ávila, Sández; Ibarra, Pizarro; Julián Fernández, Di María, Campaz; Copetti.

Source: Meu Timao

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