Estudiantes vs. Defensa y Justicia Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 22 September 2025

On 22 September 2025, Estudiantes face Defensa y Justicia in an intriguing Liga Profesional encounter. Both teams currently sit on 12 points, with Estudiantes in 12th position and Defensa y Justicia just ahead in 10th. Despite similar standings, Estudiantes are the bookmaker favorites, largely due to their home advantage and historical head-to-head success.

Estudiantes have shown strong form at home, with Leandro Gonzalez Pirez being their top scorer despite his injury. With recent form being somewhat patchy, a narrow win is predicted for Estudiantes, supported by our recommended bet: Estudiantes (-1) (EH).

Defensa y Justicia, managed by Mariano Soso, will be keen to challenge this prediction, leaning on top scorer Juan Miritello. Expect an engaging contest, with Estudiantes likely to edge it narrowly.

Estudiantes vs Defensa y Justicia Prediction & Betting Tip

For this clash between Estudiantes and Defensa y Justicia, our recommended betting tip is to go for Estudiantes (-1) (EH), reflecting confidence in Estudiantes’ ability to leverage their home advantage.

• Estudiantes have won three of their four home games, showcasing strong home form.
• Historical head-to-head shows Estudiantes gaining narrow victories over Defensa y Justicia.
• Defensa y Justicia can be unpredictable away, providing a higher chance of Estudiantes securing a win.

With both teams sitting on 12 points, this match is crucial for gaining an edge in the mid-table scramble. Given these details, Estudiantes have a slight upper hand, making our suggested bet appear favorable.

Estudiantes vs Defensa y Justicia Odds

For the upcoming match between Estudiantes and Defensa y Justicia, the bookmakers have tipped Estudiantes as the favorites, largely due to their solid home performance.

These odds reflect the close nature of the contest as both teams sit equal on points. Estudiantes’ home advantage and their promising head-to-head record provide them with a slight upper hand. On the other hand, Defensa y Justicia shouldn’t be underestimated as they have shown they can be competitive, even away from home.

Considering these odds and the match context, a wager on Estudiantes, especially with the handicap, offers a compelling risk-to-reward ratio.

Estudiantes Team Analysis

Estudiantes Recent Performance

Estudiantes have had a turbulent recent run in all competitions over their last five fixtures, culminating in DWLLL. Their most recent outing was a tough loss to Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores Final Stage, ending 2-1. Prior to that, they were narrowly defeated by River Plate at home in the Liga Profesional Clausura. They suffered another away loss to Central Córdoba de Santiago (2-0), overshadowing their solitary win against Aldosivi (1-0). Estudiantes’ only draw came in a goalless match against Cerro Porteño in the Copa Libertadores Final Stage.

Despite this rocky patch, Estudiantes have managed to score an average of 0.60 goals per game in their last five matches and have recorded two clean sheets. With positional parity in the league but home advantage, Estudiantes are hoping to reverse their recent poor form and secure another critical win.

Estudiantes Key Players

Estudiantes will lean heavily on several key players to find success against Defensa y Justicia. Despite missing top scorer Leandro Gonzalez Pirez due to a hamstring injury, Eduardo Domínguez’s side still has influential players to watch out for.

Expected lineup for Estudiantes:

• Goalkeeper: Néstor Fernando Muslera
• Defenders: Roman Gomez, Santiago Nunez, Facundo Rodriguez, Santiago Arzamendia
• Midfielders: Santiago Ascacibar, Mikel Amondarain, Tiago Palacios, Jose Sosa, Alexis Castro
• Forward: Facundo Farias

José Sosa, the attacking midfielder, is likely to play a critical role in linking up play and creating chances. Meanwhile, Facundo Farias will be pivotal upfront, needing to convert opportunities to cover Pirez’s absence. Keep an eye on the duel between Estudiantes’ midfielders and Defensa y Justicia’s agile attackers; whoever wins this battle may very well dictate the outcome of the match.

Estudiantes Suspensions & Injuries

Estudiantes have a few injury concerns heading into this fixture which could impact their performance. Notably, they’ll be missing top scorer Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, who is out with a hamstring injury until early October. Additionally, Joaquin Tobio Burgos and Eric Meza are both dealing with injuries and have a potential return time at the end of September. Edwuin Cetre and Alexis Soto are also out, with their returns expected in about 1-2 weeks.

These absences might affect their attacking prowess as Pirez has been a key goal scorer. The defense and midfield will also need to step up their game to compensate for the absentees. However, the team has managed clean sheets in two of their last five games, suggesting they can still hold strong at the back despite these challenges.

Estudiantes Tactics and Formation

For the upcoming match against Defensa y Justicia, Estudiantes are likely to use a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Estudiantes Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Key Forward: Facundo Farias, who will need to step up in the absence of top scorer Leandro Gonzalez Pirez
• Midfield Trio: Santiago Ascacibar, José Sosa, Tiago Palacios
• Defensive Strength: Two clean sheets in the last five games
• Notable Strategy: Aiming to leverage their strong home form by maintaining a solid defensive line while seeking to capitalize on quick counter-attacks

Eduardo Domínguez will focus on a balanced approach, emphasizing both defensive solidity and effective transitions in attack. Expect Estudiantes to be organized at the back while trying to exploit any defensive lapses from Defensa y Justicia, especially during set-pieces and fast breaks.

Defensa y Justicia Team Analysis

Defensa y Justicia Recent Performance

Defensa y Justicia’s recent performances have been a mixed bag, showcasing a form of WDDWL over their last five matches. They started this run with a narrow 1-0 win against Deportivo Riestra and followed up with consecutive draws against Newell’s Old Boys (1-1) and Barracas Central (1-1).

A notable highlight was their 2-1 victory over Belgrano, demonstrating their capability to pull off important wins. However, they stumbled in their latest fixture, suffering a 2-1 home loss to Club Atletico Platense. Over these five matches, Defensa y Justicia have managed an average of 1.20 goals per game but secured just one clean sheet. Coached by Mariano Soso, the team remains competitive, although their inconsistency can be a liability. Coming into this fixture, they will need to bolster their defensive efforts to stand a chance against Estudiantes.

Defensa y Justicia Key Players

Defensa y Justicia will be relying on several key figures as they face Estudiantes. Top scorer Juan Miritello, who has netted 4 goals this season, will be the cornerstone of their attack. Managed by Mariano Soso, the team will strive to utilize their balanced lineup to secure vital points.

Expected lineup for Defensa y Justicia:

• Goalkeeper: Enrique Bologna
• Defenders: Emanuel Aguilera, Damian Fernandez, Rafael Delgado
• Midfielders: Agustín Hausch, Santiago Sosa, Kevin Gutierrez, Alexis Soto
• Attackers: Juan Gutiérrez, Juan Miritello, Abiel Osorio

Miritello’s performance will be crucial in breaking through Estudiantes’ defense, which has two clean sheets in their last five games. Additionally, the midfield battle between Defensa’s dynamic duo of Santiago Sosa and Kevin Gutierrez against Estudiantes’ midfield will be one to watch as it could dictate the flow of the game.

Defensa y Justicia Suspensions & Injuries

Defensa y Justicia will enter the match with some injury concerns that could impact their game plan. Cesar Perez is out with a cruciate ligament injury and is not expected back until early February 2026. Additionally, Aaron Molinas is sidelined with a muscle injury and is anticipated to return in about 1-2 weeks.

These absences, particularly Perez’s, are significant as they weaken Defensa y Justicia’s defensive capability. Perez has been a key figure, and his prolonged absence puts additional pressure on the remaining defenders. Despite these setbacks, the team has shown resilience and flexibility in their recent performances, and Mariano Soso will be looking to his squad to step up and fill the gaps.

Defensa y Justicia Tactics and Formation

For the upcoming match, Defensa y Justicia are likely to adopt a 3-4-3 formation, aimed at providing both defensive solidity and attacking flexibility.

Defensa y Justicia Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 3-4-3
• Key Forward: Juan Miritello, with 4 goals this season, will be pivotal upfront.
• Midfield Four: Agustín Hausch, Santiago Sosa, Kevin Gutierrez, Alexis Soto
• Defensive Structure: Emanuel Aguilera, Damian Fernandez, Rafael Delgado
• Notable Strategy: Counter-attacking play, focusing on rapid transitions from defense to attack, particularly exploiting spaces behind Estudiantes’ defenders.

Mariano Soso will emphasize a structured defensive setup to mitigate the impact of their current injuries. They will also rely on swift counter-attacks to capitalize on opportunities, particularly aiming to exploit any lapses in concentration by Estudiantes.

Estudiantes vs Defensa y Justicia Head-to-Head Statistics

In their last five meetings, the encounters between Estudiantes and Defensa y Justicia have been fiercely competitive, each side securing key wins. Here’s a quick look at their recent head-to-head results:

• 2025-03-09: Defensa y Justicia 1 – 0 Estudiantes (Liga Profesional Apertura)
• 2024-09-28: Estudiantes 1 – 0 Defensa y Justicia (Liga Profesional)
• 2024-03-29: Defensa y Justicia 1 – 0 Estudiantes (Copa de la Liga Profesional)
• 2023-12-14: Estudiantes 1 – 0 Defensa y Justicia (Cup)
• 2023-11-05: Estudiantes 2 – 1 Defensa y Justicia (Copa de la Liga Profesional)

Estudiantes have a slight edge with three wins out of the last five games, showcasing their ability to grind out narrow victories. On the other hand, Defensa y Justicia have managed two wins, indicating that they can hold their own. This history hints at another close encounter, with the likely outcome being a tightly contested match. Given Estudiantes’ recent home form and head-to-head superiority, they appear to have the upper hand.

Odds accurate as of 20/09/2025 23:00, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.