Estudiantes L.P. vs Defensa y Justicia Prediction: Copa Argentina – La Gran Final

The Copa Argentina, historically and statistically speaking, is the competition with the largest number of participants, and it is also the competition that has been played the fewest times in the land of the Gauchos. It almost sounds unbelievable that this year's edition is only its 13th since 1969 when it was first organized. It has only been held continuously for the last 12 years, more precisely since the 2011/2012 season, except for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. This season we have a final that almost nobody expected between Estudiantes L.P. and Defensa y Justicia. Both teams had a difficult road to the final and they both deserve to play and enjoy it. Finally, the time has come, and the stage is set for this big and very expected final.

Form: DWWWD

Estudiantes L.P. are in great form, they are undefeated in their last 6 matches with 4 wins and 2 draws. However, in Copa de la Liga Profesional they finished in 9th place which was very disappointing for them and their fans. It’s important for Estudiantes L.P. if Santiago Ascacibar and Gaston Benedetti are fully recovered and able to play an intense match. The club’s legend and captain of this team Mariano Andujar announced that this will be the last match in his career, and it gives more meaning and motivation to everyone in this team. Estudiantes L.P. were better than Boca Juniors in the semi-finals where they showed character and knowledge of how to play in these high stakes matches.

Form: LWLLD

Never the champions of Argentina, never the best in the cup, but the Hawks have serious achievements in the recent past. The display cases are no longer empty, first, the cup of Copa Sudamericana was brought in, then from Recopa. Defensa y Justicia come to this duel at a terrible time, having only a win in their last 5 matches and it was against San Lorenzo in the semi-finals of this competition. They finished in 12th place in Copa de la Liga Profesional losing their last 3 matches there. Be that as it may, Defensa, despite weaker opponents, had a somewhat more complicated path to reach this stage of the competition. It started by beating Ituzaingo with a score of 3:2, then they overcame CSR Espanol with 1:0, and in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, they won on penalties against Estudiantes from Rio Quarto, and Chaco For Ever. In the semifinals against San Lorenzo was the first match in this edition of the cup in which they competed against the first league team.

None of these teams have ever played in the final, and there is no doubt that they will do their best to get their first trophy in this competition, as well as a place in the next edition of the Copa Libertadores. Their fans are already in Lanus and the situation in the city is classic South American, very festive. In their last encounter in November, Estudiantes were better with 2:1 at home in a match of Copa de la Liga Profesional, but I think that will be irrelevant in this match as now the circumstances and stakes are different. I expect a very tense match, maybe not very attractive to watch but certainly with many tactical surprises that the managers have prepared. Draw in the first half, under 2.5 goals, and maybe going to extra time or even penalties are my predictions for this final match of Copa Argentina.