Union Santa Fe (home)
- Union Santa Fe are unbeaten at home in the Liga Profesional - Apertura 2026 (Won 2, Drawn 3 from 5).
- Leonardo Madelon’s free-flowing, possession-based football has been a breath of fresh air in Argentina’s Primera Division since his appointment in April 2025.
- The Santa Fe based club have been solid if unspectacular in the Apertura 2026 (14th with 16 points from 11 matches), and they enter Friday's match undefeated in their last 5 home matches (Won 2, Drawn 3).
- They drew their most recent home match against Boca Juniors 1-1.
- They have scored 6 goals in 5 home matches.
Deportivo Riestra (away)
- Deportivo Riestra are winless away from home in the Liga Profesional - Apertura 2026 (Drawn 2, lost 3).
- Gustavo Benitez’s Deportivo Riestra have been stubborn and, in truth, toothless in their 11 Apertura fixtures, finishing 27th on just 7 points so far.
- This fixture will be won and lost in midfield, as Benitez’s players will look to make the hosts work for every inch of space and then hit on the counter-attack with vertical balls in behind, or from set pieces.
- Their last three matches include two home draws and a narrow 1-0 away defeat.
Head-to-Head
The reverse fixture between these sides in Liga Profesional 2024 ended 0-0 .
Key Players
- Cristian Alberto Tarragona
- Has netted 5 goals in 11 appearances in the Liga Profesional - Apertura 2026 (3 in the last 5).
- Rafael Profini
- Has 5 assists in 11 appearances.
- Has either scored or assisted 5 of Union’s last 10 goals.
- Pablo Monje
- Has 1 assist in 10 league appearances this season and he is often the instigator of Riestra’s rare attacking forays.
- Antony Alonso
- Has 2 goals in 11 league matches and is their main attacking hope.
Betting Insights
- The under 2.5 goals market is available at 1.38.
- The lack of attacking threat in the visitors and Union’s home goal average (6 goals in 5) point toward a low-scoring affair.
Prediction
- Union are favourites for a reason, so I am backing the home team to grind out a low-scoring game against this dogged but toothless Deportivo side.
- Expect the match to be decided in midfield, with Deportivo aiming to disrupt and hit on the counter.
