Pincha aims to reclaim confidence after three draws in a row, while Cream eyes a return to hugging distance from the top, pushing hard for wins that keep them near the summit.
The teams head to the Ciudad de Caseros stadium for a pivotal confrontation between Students (BA) and Atletico Rafaela, a clash scheduled for Saturday at 3pm as part of the twenty-sixth round of Group B in the 2023 Primera Nacional season.
HOW DO THEY GET THERE?
Pincha arrives off a narrow escape in Jose Maria Minella, surrendering a 1-1 result to Aldosivi. Walter Otta’s squad began with intent, taking the lead through Nicolás Fernández in the 36th minute, yet Tobías Cervera’s late first-half strike swung the momentum in favor of the Matador, delivering Pincha their third straight draw. The result leaves them bottoming out near the relegation threshold, though firmly outside the immediate danger zone with 29 points.
La Crema, by contrast, halted a three-match winning run with a draw against Brown de Adrogué at the Nuevo Monumental. Despite the setback, they remain in the upper tier of the standings, perched at 41 points and pressing for continued progress in Group B.
It’s worth recalling that their first-round meeting in Alberti ended 1-1. Ezequiel Medrán looked to have sealed a comfortable win for Pincha, with Claudio Bieler grabbing a late touch of relief for the visitors. A near-miss by the home side’s striker and a late red card for Sebastián Mayorga at 61′ kept the contest tight until the whistle.
Current context shows the championship split into two zones, one with 18 teams and the other with 19, with round-trip play between all sides. The top seed from the larger section earns a direct promotion shot, while the runner-up and positions two through eight enter a playoff scenario to decide promotion, with the bottom-placed clubs facing relegation. The penultimate team in each group enters a Repechage to avoid relegation.
Fans can discover live viewing options and streaming details for the match through official broadcast partners and authorized online services.
Goal provides the best preview and statistics for the fixture, offering fans a comprehensive snapshot of matchups and context.
STUDENTS (HOMES) VS. ATHLETIC RAFAELA: DATE AND TIME OF THE START
HOW TO SEE STUDENTS (HOMES) VS. ATHLETIC RAFAELA ONLINE: CHANNELS AND TRANSMISSIONS
THE COMPARISON OF THE TEAMS
THE FORMATIONS AND REPLACEMENTS
HEAD TO HEAD: THE LATEST SHOWDOWNS
THIS IS HOW THE TABLE OF GROUP B WORKS
LEFT OF INTEREST
Source: Goal