TFT Issue 26!
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Featured game
Quilmes vs Estudiantes De La Plata
Today’s featured game is the Argentinian Primera Division affair between newly-promoted Quilmes and giants Estudiantes De La Plata. It’s still early Clausura but there does look to be value in this game.
You see, the only real advantage that Quilmes have had since promotion was the usual team advantage – home advantage. There’s nothing particularly notable about their home games that benefit them – they simply have a good level of support, no doubt due to them being one of the oldest clubs in Argentina. However, there’s a bit of a twist to this game tonight in terms of venue which impacts the game a lot, in my view. Quilmes are playing in their usual stadium – Jose Luis Meiszner – but Estudiantes are also playing their home games there too for the Clausura as their own stadium is undergoing renovations so the home advantage factor is somewhat removed here. Estudiantes have already beaten Newells Old Boys 2-1 in this stadium in the Clausura so they are gradually getting used to it and for me, the venue situation makes this game a lot more favourable for Estudiantes than the odds suggest.
Now, I can understand Estudiantes’ odds being a little long – after all, they bizarrely lost coach Sabella a few weeks ago for no real reason and they were drubbed 5-0 in Brazil mid-week by Cruzeiro in the Copa Libertadores. However, from a quality perspective, Estudiantes are a lot better than Quilmes in every area and that makes me very interested in this game. Estudiantes do miss veteran Veron and his midfield compatriot Brana for this game, depriving Estudiantes of some experience in the middle of the park. However, transfer window acquisition Barrientos should provide the necessary creativity from the flank and Gaston Fernandez has been deadly in attack since moving to Estudiantes so I still think the visitors have enough to win this one.
Quilmes are battlers; no doubt about it. However, they’re not a classy side and it’s in games like this where they should be undone. They were undone against a solid Colon de Santa Fe side away from home last week with considerable ease and I’m expecting more of the same tonight. Either way, with the above in mind, the odds on an Estudiantes win are rather long so I think there’s value to take advantage of here.
Team news – Estudiantes De La Plata miss Brana and Veron.
Verdict: Estudiantes De La Plata to win at 5/6.