Independiente v Estudiantes: top clash in Apertura opener | OneFootball

El Rojo hosts the champion in the opening round of the Torneo Apertura of the Professional League.

Independiente and Estudiantes de La Plata will face each other this Friday from 8:00 PM at the Estadio Libertadores de América–Ricardo Enrique Bochini, for the first round of the 2026 Torneo Apertura. El Rojo will look to start the championship on the right foot, although they will be up against a Pincha that comes with the momentum of having been champion of the 2025 Clausura.

The Avellaneda side did not achieve qualification for the Copa Sudamericana and will therefore focus all their efforts on the domestic tournament, aiming to break a 24-year streak without domestic titles. For this season, one of the standout signings was Ignacio Malcorra, who arrived as a free agent after his stint with Rosario Central.

During the preseason, Independiente participated in the Serie Río de La Plata, where they showed good results: they defeated Alianza Lima 2-1, Everton 5-3, and Montevideo Wanderers 2-0, in a preparation that left positive signs.

Estudiantes, meanwhile, will start the Apertura as the reigning champion. At the end of December, they were crowned in the 2025 Clausura after winning 5-4 on penalties against Racing, and then claimed the Trofeo de Campeones by beating Platense 2-1. In addition, last Monday they debuted in the Copa Argentina with a 4-0 thrashing of Ituzaingó, which put them in the next round.

In the transfer market, Pincha added Adolfo Gaich, former striker of San Lorenzo, with the intention of strengthening their offensive power for a demanding season.

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