Rosario Central hosts Gimnasia La Plata looking to extend unbeaten run

The Gigante de Arroyito is gearing up for a match with plenty on the line. Rosario Central hosts Gimnasia La Plata on Saturday, August 29, starting at 5:00 p.m. (Argentina and Uruguay time), for matchday seven of the 2026 Clausura Tournament. And while there's still a long way to go in the championship, this matchup could set the tone for both teams as they chase very different goals.

Central arrives still stinging from its Copa Libertadores elimination, a wound that continues to hurt in Rosario. But there's one thing working in the team's favor: Jorge Almirón's side has gone five games without losing, a run that began after that 2-2 draw against Talleres in Cordoba. Riding that momentum, the "Canalla" remain firmly in the hunt for the annual table title, no small feat given that they're currently the ones defending it.

On the other side, the outlook is far more complicated. Gimnasia has dropped three straight games, the latest and most painful coming at home, a 3-2 loss to Gimnasia de Mendoza that left plenty of concern inside the club. Ariel Pereyra needs to halt that slide if the "Lobo" wants to keep fighting for a spot in international competition, a goal that started the season on a high note and is now starting to slip away.

Key names to watch in this match

At Rosario Central, all eyes are on Angel Di Maria, who remains the guiding light of a squad with intriguing options like Franco Ibarra, Jaminton Campaz and Ignacio Ovando. These are pieces that give Almiron alternatives both for combination play and for speed down the flanks.

Gimnasia, meanwhile, leans on the experience of Ignacio Fernandez and the attacking contributions of Agustin Auzmendi, not to mention Nicolas Barros Schelotto and Ignacio Miramon, players who need to show their best if the team hopes to snap its rough patch away from La Plata.

What happened in their last meeting

The most recent meeting between these two sides came on February 25 of this year, when they faced off in La Plata. That day, Rosario Central won 2-1, with goals from Enzo Gimenez and Gaston Avila, while Ignacio Fernandez had opened the scoring for the home side. That result gives the Rosario club a bit more confidence heading into this new chapter.

The match will air live on ESPN Premium in Argentina, with kickoff set for 5:00 p.m. in Argentina and Uruguay, 4:00 p.m. in Chile, and 3:00 p.m. in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. It's a clash that promises tension right to the final whistle, with Central looking to stay on top and Gimnasia needing to turn things around as soon as possible.