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Racing looks to defend their lead at home

Racing Club hosts Vélez Sarsfield this Tuesday with the mission of protecting the narrow advantage earned in the first leg, where they won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Adrián “Maravilla” Martínez. The match will be played at the Estadio Cilindro de Avellaneda, which will be filled exclusively with Racing fans, as both clubs agreed to ban visiting supporters in order to avoid potential incidents following recent violence in the Copa Sudamericana between Independiente and Universidad de Chile fans.

In the previous clash, Vélez suffered a major setback when Lisandro Magallán was sent off after two yellow cards in under ten minutes. The defender, whom coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto has called one of the most intelligent players in his squad, will be a crucial absence for the Fortín in this decisive match.

Key players and tactics

The standout figure for Racing remains “Maravilla” Martínez, the club’s all-time top scorer in international competitions and current leading scorer of this year’s Libertadores. Under manager Gustavo Costas, the team has shown a more direct and attacking style, with relentless runs down the wings and solid midfield recovery from Santiago Sosa and Juan Nardoni.

Meanwhile, Vélez continues to push an aggressive brand of football that starts with Agustín Bouzat’s distribution and finds creativity in young talents like Maher Carrizo—called up to Argentina’s U-20 squad—and Imanol Machuca. Despite the defeat in the first leg, the Liniers side believes their offensive potential could still turn the series around.

What’s at stake

The winner of this quarterfinal will advance to face either Estudiantes de La Plata or Flamengo, with the Brazilians holding the upper hand after a 2-1 victory in the Maracanã.

Both Argentine teams come into the match on the back of domestic wins: Racing defeated Huracán 2-0 with goals from Duván Vergara and Matías Zaracho, while Vélez edged San Martín de San Juan 2-1 thanks to strikes from Manuel Lanzini and Dilan Godoy.

The atmosphere promises to be electric, with Racing carrying the advantage but Vélez hungry to prove themselves. Expect a high-stakes all-Argentine showdown in the Copa Libertadores, broadcast live on beIN SPORTS.