Unión on double alert: Tarragona and Estigarribia doubts for Mendoza trip | OneFootball

The draw against Talleres de Córdoba not only allowed Unión to reach the Round of 16 of the Apertura Tournament. It also left a concrete concern in attack: Cristian Tarragona finished with a muscle issue and joins the situation of Marcelo Estigarribia, another key name who is not at one hundred percent.

The scorer of the 1-1 at the end against Talleres raised alarm bells as soon as the match ended. At first, a tear was feared, but as the hours passed the diagnosis was more moderate: a small muscle fiber tear or even an overload he had already been carrying since the match against Vélez Sarsfield.

His recovery will be decisive. In principle, he is not ruled out for the visit to Independiente Rivadavia of Mendoza on Saturday at 9:30 p.m., although his presence would mean playing with physical limitations.

Estigarribia, another player under watch

To Tarragona’s situation is added that of Estigarribia, who has also been physically hampered and has not managed to recover his best form. His condition will be evaluated during the week, in a context where the coaching staff is trying not to take unnecessary risks, but also not to give up attacking weight in a decisive match.

Unión and a problem in attack

For coach Leonardo Madelón, the possible absence or decline of his two main strikers represents a major tactical challenge. Tarragona is currently one of the team’s top scorers in 2026, with 7 goals in the Apertura Tournament and 2 in the Copa Argentina, while Estigarribia brings mobility, pressing, and experience to the front line.

The alternatives opening up for Unión

In this scenario, other options are starting to gain traction. Agustín Colazo appears as a real alternative after delivering a goal off the bench, while a change in system is not ruled out, as happened at one point with the inclusion of Nicolás Palavecino (recovering from a muscle injury). Meanwhile, Diego Díaz is also an option.

Countdown to Mendoza

With several days still ahead, Unión is monitoring every physical detail of its strikers. The match against Independiente Rivadavia leaves no margin for error, and in that context, the decision on Tarragona and Estigarribia will be key.

Qualification is already secured. Now, the challenge is to maintain the level in a direct showdown where every individual name can tip the balance.

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