Unión kick off the Playoffs against Gimnasia in front of their home fans | OneFootball

Unión will host Gimnasia this Monday from 10 PM, aiming to reach the quarter-finals of the Torneo Clausura. What team will Leo Madelón field?

Unión hosts Gimnasia de La Plata tonight at the 15 de Abril stadium from 10 PM, for the round of 16 of the Torneo Clausura 2025, in a direct clash that will determine the immediate future of both teams. El Tatengue, which had a very good regular phase, finished second in Zone A with 25 points – only behind Boca – while El Lobo made it to the playoffs in the last matchday, after a resounding victory against Platense.

How Unión arrives at the duel against Gimnasia

The team led by Leonardo Madelón arrives strengthened both in terms of football and morale. They have four matches without defeats and recently drew 0-0 against Belgrano in Córdoba, showing solidity and collective balance. After that match, the coach was clear about the focus for this knockout stage: “The immediate goal is to win the head-to-head. We arrive well, calm, mature, and balanced. When the team is mentally healthy, everything flows. This Unión style is liked by the people: it’s a team that gives everything,” he stated.

From a sporting perspective, Madelón will be able to field his ideal lineup. Lautaro Vargas will return to the right-back position in place of Álvarez, while Agustín Colazo is expected to win the spot over Marcelo Estigarribia to accompany Cristian Tarragona in the attack. In the midfield, the Pittón–Martínez tandem has consolidated as one of the strongest points, while Mateo Del Blanco is going through a great moment on the wing. Additionally, the squad is up to date financially, a situation highlighted by president Luis Spahn, who noted the effort made to avoid salary delays in a challenging context for many Argentine football clubs.

How Gimnasia arrives at the clash against Unión

On the other side will be a Gimnasia team that arrives in high spirits, with three consecutive wins and four victories in the last six matches. With 22 points, they finished seventh in Zone B and made it to the playoffs thanks to a 3-0 win against Platense in Vicente López. Coach Fernando Zaniratto would maintain the team that defeated Calamar, although he might count on Colombian Alejandro Piedrahita, who trained alongside the group.

The security of Nelson Insfrán in goal, the defensive improvement with Enzo Martínez as a starter, and the intensity provided by Augusto Max and Nicolás Barros Schelotto in midfield were key in this resurgence. In attack, Marcelo Torres stands out as the main threat, having scored seven of the team’s 14 goals in the tournament. As a detail, the third goalkeeper, Julián Kadijevic, was included in the squad to avoid any contingencies before the match.

The match will be officiated by Sebastián Martínez, accompanied by Juan Mamani and Iván Núñez, with Bryan Ferreyra as the fourth referee. Ariel Penel will be in charge of the VAR, assisted by Sebastián Habib. It will be broadcast on ESPN Premium and have radio coverage on La Redonda.

The advantage of Unión against Gimnasia

The only advantage for Unión, due to their better position in the regular phase, will be playing at home. In case of a tie in the 90 minutes, there will be half an hour of extra time and, if the tie persists, a penalty shootout. This is a regulatory change compared to the Apertura, where it was directly resolved by penalty kicks.

The context of the match is also influenced by the situation of Jerónimo Domina, who, after undergoing a medical examination in Cádiz, will be free at the end of the year. Unión would only receive around 400,000 euros for training rights, a case internally analyzed as a learning experience to avoid similar situations in the future.

With football backing, emotional fullness, and the support of their fans, Unión will seek to capitalize on their regularity in the initial phase and take the first step in their goal of competing for the title. Gimnasia, with the hope of causing an upset, will try to unsettle a team that feels ready for the challenge. The 15 de Abril, once again, will be the stage for a do-or-die match.

Lineups of Unión and Gimnasia

Unión: Matías Tagliamonte; Lautaro Vargas, Maizon Rodríguez, Valentín Fascendini, Mateo Del Blanco; Julián Palacios, Mauro Pittón, Mauricio Martínez, Franco Fragapane; Marcelo Estigarribia and Agustín Colazo. Coach: Leonardo Madelón.

Gimnasia (LP): Nelson Insfrán; Juan de Dios Pintado, Renzo Giampaoli, Enzo Martínez, Pedro Silva Torrejón; Augusto Max, Nicolás Barros Schelotto; Manuel Panaro, Bautista Merlini, Jeremías Merlo; Marcelo Torres. Coach: Fernando Zaniratto.

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