Fútbol Argentino
Estudiantes thrashed Gimnasia de Mendoza and moved four points from the playoff zone
El Pincha reacted in time at UNO and ended up winning 3-0 on Matchday 11 of the Torneo Clausura. With the victory, they moved four points behind Independiente, the last team that would be qualifying for the playoffs today.
The Torneo Clausura 2026 is starting to enter its decisive phase, and Estudiantes took an important step in that race. At UNO, the team from La Plata beat Gimnasia de Mendoza 3-0 on Matchday 11 and moved fully into the fight to get among the teams qualified for the playoffs.
The win came at the end of a match that was only broken open in the decisive minutes. Cetré, from the penalty spot, opened the scoring seven minutes from the end, and then Fabricio Pérez sealed the result with a brace in stoppage time. With that result, the Pincha moved to four points behind Independiente, who currently sit as the last team inside the qualification zone.
A win that puts them back in the race
For Estudiantes, the value of the 3-0 goes beyond the scoreline. The team needed a quick response in a stretch of the tournament where every point counts twice: in the battle in the zone table and also in the overall outlook of the competition.
That context means the Pincha’s climb has a double reading:
- they moved back closer to the playoff cutoff;
- they extended their margin of hope in the final stretch of the tournament;
- they made the most of a match that was only decided at the end.
Fabricio Pérez’s performance ended up rounding off a night that had been even until the final stretch. His brace in added time turned a tight win into a rout and gave Estudiantes a morale boost heading into the closing stretch of the regular phase.
The table and what comes next
As the Clausura standings take shape, the battle for qualifying places is also tightening.
At the same time, other results from the round also shifted the picture. Riestra drew 1-1 with Central Córdoba in Villa Soldati and still have chances, although they ended up six points behind Independiente. And Rosario Central drew 1-1 with Banfield, a tie that kept them from remaining the sole leader of Zone B.
With the championship entering its final stretch, the message from this round is clear: there is still room for major movement in both zones. And Estudiantes, with their rout in La Plata, made sure they stay alive in that conversation.
