Talleres and Rosario Central look to turn things around in Cordoba after rough Clausura 2026 start

A Cordoba club that can't find its footing at home and an Angel Di Maria squad still stinging from its Copa Libertadores exit. That's the backdrop as Talleres and Rosario Central meet at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, in a clash that promises tension from the opening whistle even though both sides started the season with far higher hopes.

Kickoff is set for Monday, August 24, at 9:15 p.m. (Argentina and Uruguay), 8:15 p.m. in Chile and 7:15 p.m. for Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. The broadcast will air on ESPN Premium, so anyone looking to catch it live knows where to tune in.

Two ambitious projects in need of a reset

Both Talleres and Rosario Central were built with the idea of competing toe to toe with the league's top sides in the Torneo Clausura 2026. But a rough start has thrown a wrench into both coaches' plans. That's why this match carries more weight than the calendar suggests: it's not just about grabbing three points, it's about halting a slide that's starting to cause unease in the front offices and in the stands.

The home side comes in under pressure. Coached by Jorge Sampaoli, Talleres has racked up four losses in five matches and sits near the bottom of Zone A, a stark contrast to the ambitions the club set out with at the start of the tournament. To turn things around, the Cordoba side needs its offensive leaders to step up: Valentin Depietri, Franco Cristaldo and Rick are the names expected to spearhead the attack in search of a response.

On the other side, Rosario Central has a somewhat better points tally in the domestic tournament, but it's still carrying the emotional blow of being knocked out of the Copa Libertadores by Corinthians, something that could weigh on the team both on the field and mentally as it heads to Cordoba. For the Rosario side, the burden falls on three key figures: Angel Di Maria, Jaminton Campaz and Enzo Copetti, tasked with providing the spark the rest of the squad needs.

The most recent meeting between the two sides actually favors the home team. On February 20 of this year, in the Torneo Apertura, Talleres traveled to the Gigante de Arroyito and pulled off a surprising win: 1 to 0, with a goal from Ronaldo Martinez sealing the result. That result could offer a psychological boost for a team that, playing at home this time, will lean on its fans to snap out of its slump.

With both squads in need of good news, the Kempes will host a head-to-head battle between two sets of postponed ambitions. Neither team can afford another stumble without further damaging its hopes in Zone A of the Clausura 2026.