Worries over poor pitch at the Cilindro just days before home debut | OneFootball

Racing will make its home debut this Wednesday against Rosario Central, and the condition of the Cilindro's pitch has drawn attention just hours before the match. Images of the playing field circulated on social media, showing a surface still under development, which caused alarm among fans and media.

The Avellaneda institution explained that the poor condition is due to a renovation process that began at the end of 2025. According to the official statement, “the change of the grass started at the beginning of 2025 with fundamental modifications. In the first days of 2026, the winter grass was removed using chemical substances, followed by the planting of a new rye grass layer.”

Racing clarified that the date of the home debut was affected by the late end of the Primera season in December and the lack of rain, a key factor for the grass's development. The club is confident that, with more favorable weather, the improvement will be sustained over the next two weeks.

The club also detailed the work carried out: removal of winter grass, mechanical and vertical cuts, application of herbicides, aeration, sand dressing, irrigation, and fertilization. These tasks aim to prepare the grass base for optimal development during the season.

Racing's last home match was on December 1, 2025, against Tigre, while the field was later used by the women's football team in the first leg final against Belgrano. The grass renovation had been one of the priorities during Diego Milito's management, following the issues experienced in the last stage of Víctor Blanco, including the need to play a Copa Sudamericana match in Lanús in 2024.

Thus, although the Cilindro will not show its best version for the start of the 2026 Apertura Tournament, Racing assures that the field will continue to improve in the coming weeks.

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