Talleres welcome Independiente to Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba this Sunday at 21:30 local time, in a match corresponding to the twelfth round of Zone A of the Torneo Clausura 2026, according to TyC Sports.
Both teams arrive needing a response. Talleres are coming off a 1-0 loss to Belgrano in the Córdoba derby, while Independiente were beaten 4-1 by Instituto in their most recent outing.
The fixture pits two sides eager to regain ground in Zone A and stay in touch with the playoff places.
Why it matters
The stakes are straightforward for both clubs. Talleres need a win to halt a slide that has seen them drop consecutive matches and drift away from the qualification positions. Independiente, meanwhile, are searching for the consistency that has eluded them for much of the campaign.
A defeat for either side would deepen the pressure, while a victory could serve as a turning point as the Clausura enters its decisive stretch.
Talleres' recent form
Talleres' 1-0 defeat to Belgrano in the clásico cordobés extended a difficult run. Before that, they had lost 3-1 to Instituto, meaning Omar De Felippe's side has now suffered back-to-back losses.
Across their last five matches, Talleres have managed just one victory. That win, a 2-1 result over Unión, had briefly ended a three-game winless sequence. TyC Sports reports that the Córdoba club now needs to react to close the gap on the playoff spots.
De Felippe is expected to line up with Rodrigo Unsain in goal. The probable back four consists of Augusto Schott, Matías Catalán, Gastón Fascendini and Gabriel Báez. Federico Fattori, Juan Sforza and Franco Cristaldo are set to form the midfield, with Rick, Joaquín Álvarez and Valentín Dávila leading the attack.
Independiente's struggles
Independiente's situation is similarly unsettled. The Rojo were comprehensively beaten 4-1 by Instituto, a result that followed a 1-0 win over Central Córdoba. That victory had suggested a possible upturn, but the team was unable to build on it and defensive problems resurfaced.
TyC Sports notes that Independiente had also conceded heavily in a 3-0 loss to Gimnasia de Mendoza earlier in their recent schedule. The trip to Córdoba therefore represents another chance to find the regularity that has been missing for large parts of the tournament.
Jadson Viera's probable starting eleven features Rodrigo Rey in goal. Santiago Arias, Sebastián Valdéz, Juan Arrayago and Nahuel Banegas are expected to make up the defence. Iván Marcone, Mateo Pérez Curci and Lautaro Millán are likely to start in midfield, with Santiago Montiel, Matías Abaldo and Ezequiel Ávila in attack.
Match details and context
Sebastián Zunino has been appointed as the referee for the fixture, per TyC Sports.
The match is part of the twelfth round of Zone A, a stage of the competition where points carry added weight as clubs jostle for playoff qualification. Both Talleres and Independiente enter the game aware that dropped points could prove costly.
Independiente's visit to Córdoba also comes with an eye on their upcoming commitments, including the clásico against Racing, adding another layer of significance to their team selection and approach.
For Talleres, playing at the Kempes offers the chance to use home advantage to steady a campaign that has wobbled in recent weeks. The club's supporters will expect a response after the derby defeat.
What happens next will depend on whether either side can convert urgency into a result. Both managers will be watching closely for signs of the consistency their teams have lacked, with the playoff race in Zone A leaving little room for further slips.
