Estudiantes reaches Libertadores quarterfinals on grit, not money

Three headers in a row off a corner kick, deep into stoppage time, to knock out Independiente Medellín. An agonizing draw suffered in La Plata, followed days later by a resounding response in Santiago, a 3-0 win that eliminated Universidad Católica. That's how Estudiantes de La Plata arrived in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Copa Libertadores, without the comfort of big numbers but with that blend of grit and good soccer that has always defined the club.

El Pincha hasn't had a flawless run domestically, but the Libertadores seems to bring out another gear. Memory plays its part: the club hasn't lifted the trophy since 2009, and the hunger to do it again shows up at every press conference and every coffee-table conversation. With Juan Sebastián Verón as club president, Estudiantes maintains a project that doesn't rely on luck but on decisions sustained over time. Just look at the recent trophy case: at least one title a year between 2023 and 2025, in an Argentine league where nobody gives anything away.

Last year the dream ended in the quarterfinals, eliminated on penalties by Flamengo, who went on to win the title. Now, back among the last eight, the opponent is Corinthians, another Brazilian heavyweight. And while the financial power of clubs from Rio and São Paulo is undeniable, Estudiantes arrives with arguments of its own, not as a mere guest of honor.

Reinforcements built on smarts, not spending power

One of El Pincha's keys is knowing when to spend and when not to. In August, Joaquín Correa arrived from Botafogo, brought back home just in time to fight for the Libertadores. More than a decade after leaving for Europe, where he played for Sampdoria and Inter and also suited up for the Argentina national team, Correa returned without needing to reinvent himself: he slotted into a team that already had things working and contributed exactly what was needed, including a key goal in the return leg in Santiago.

That same approach showed up when Santiago "Ruso" Ascacíbar left for Boca and Mikel Amondarain stepped up from the youth ranks to fill the gap. When a $12,000,000 offer for Amondarain later came in from Bologna, the club answered by bringing in Baltasar Rodríguez from Racing, who fit right in without a hitch. That same logic applies to Guido Carrillo up front, the center-back pairing of Santiago Núñez and Tomás Palacios, and the quiet work of Gonzalo Piovi, Alexis Castro and Joaquín Tobio Burgos in midfield.

A change on the bench and Medina's touch

Back in February, the departure of Eduardo Domínguez, who left to coach Atlético Mineiro in Brazil, rattled the fan base. He wasn't just another coach: with five titles in three years (the 2023 Copa Argentina, the 2024 Copa de la Liga and Trofeo de Campeones, and the 2025 Clausura and Trofeo de Campeones), he ended up as the second most successful coach in club history, behind only Osvaldo Zubeldía.

Alexander Medina's arrival raised some eyebrows, especially after his less than successful stint at Talleres de Córdoba. But the Uruguayan found a squad with clear ideas already in place, and his more visceral edge, rather than complicating things, ended up energizing a group that already knew how to play.

Muslera: from the mental blow to recovery

Strong form at Estudiantes earned Fernando Muslera back the starting job for Uruguay's national team through the first half of 2026. But after a shaky World Cup, where his mistakes weighed heavily in La Celeste's elimination, the doubts never fully went away, especially after a mix up with Ramiro Funes Mori led to Independiente's second goal in a 2-0 loss in the domestic league.

That's when something very typical of El Pincha kicked in: the fans had his back. That emotional support helped Muslera find again the level that made him one of the best South American goalkeepers of his generation, and today he's once again a rock at the back.

History is on Estudiantes' side too. With Zubeldía on the bench, Estudiantes broke the stranglehold of Argentine soccer's traditional five big clubs by winning the 1967 Metropolitano, and between 1968 and 1970 became the first three-time continental champion in South America, adding the 1968 Intercontinental Cup against Manchester United at Old Trafford. With that haul of continental titles, the club from La Plata stands alongside giants like River Plate and Flamengo, Brazil's most decorated club, a fact that often goes unnoticed outside La Plata.

Through anxious moments, with resilience and with good soccer, Estudiantes remains alive in the Libertadores. Up next is a rival with far greater financial power, but nobody looks down on this team anymore.