Deportivo Riestra 2 - Estudiantes de La Plata 0
Matchday 4, Zone A - Torneo Clausura 2026 | Estadio Guillermo Laza | Saturday, August 8, 2026, 2:45 PM local time
In a day filled with deep emotion, Deportivo Riestra once again proved why the Guillermo Laza stadium in Bajo Flores is a fortress. The Malevo, coached by Guillermo Duró, claimed a commanding 2-0 victory over an Estudiantes de La Plata side that prioritized resting key players for upcoming international commitments.
A Tribute Before Kickoff
Before the action began, players and fans observed a minute of silence in memory of Jorge Messi, father of Lionel Messi, who passed away at the age of 68 in the early hours of August 8, 2026. The gesture was a heartfelt moment that united both sets of supporters.
Match Highlights
Riestra took control from the start. In the 12th minute, referee Andrés Merlos, after a VAR review, awarded a penalty for a handball by Santiago Núñez. Captain Milton Céliz stepped up and converted with a powerful shot down the middle, beating goalkeeper Fabricio Iacovich to open the scoring.
In the second half, the home side continued to press. At 73 minutes, Antony Alonso capitalized on defensive errors from the Estudiantes backline, dribbled past Iacovich, and slotted the ball into the net to double the lead. It was a finish reminiscent of Argentina's finest strikers.
Estudiantes' Focus on Copa Libertadores
Coach Alexander Medina opted for a rotated lineup, with an eye on the Copa Libertadores. This Tuesday, Estudiantes will host Universidad Católica in the round of 16, and next week they face local rivals Gimnasia in the La Plata derby. Despite the loss, the Pincha can take solace in the fact that even giants have fallen at the Laza: Boca lost 3-0 in the opening round, while River and San Lorenzo also left empty-handed. The Malevo is growing stronger every week!
Player Ratings for Estudiantes
According to the Argentine newspaper El Día, here are some individual evaluations for the albirrojo team:
| Player | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Fabricio Iacovich | 5 | Generally secure, but at fault for the second goal. |
| Eros Mancuso | 5 | Had space but wasted chances. |
| Santiago Núñez | 4 | Key errors in the penalty and second goal. |
| Ramiro Funes Mori | 4 | Weak collectively, problems in marking. |
| Tiago Palacios (sub) | 6 | Best player for the team in the afternoon. |
*Team average: 4.56
Confirmed Lineups
Deportivo Riestra: Ignacio Arce; Nicolás Sansotre, Facundo Miño, Cristian Paz, Carlos Quintana; Pedro Ramírez, Milton Céliz, Pablo Monje; Braian Sánchez, Alexander Díaz, Antony Alonso. Coach: Guillermo Duró.
Estudiantes: Fabricio Iacovich; Eros Mancuso, Valente Pierani, Santiago Núñez, Ramiro Funes Mori; José Sosa, Gabriel Neves, Joaquín Pereyra; Facundo Farías, Adolfo Gaich, Edwuin Cetré. Coach: Alexander Medina.
What's Next
- Deportivo Riestra will visit Newell's Old Boys on Saturday, August 22 at 7:00 PM local time.
- Estudiantes will play the classic against Gimnasia on Saturday, August 22 at 4:45 PM, but first they host Universidad Católica on Tuesday, August 19 at 9:30 PM in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16.