Defensa y Justicia enter this Copa Argentina tie in an alarming state of freefall, suffering five consecutive defeats across all competitions. Their backline has completely unraveled during this stretch, leaking 13 goals and failing to register a single clean sheet since early April.

Racing Club must navigate a demanding schedule, arriving here just four days after a CONMEBOL Sudamericana group stage fixture. This tight turnaround will likely force squad rotation, increasing the chances of disjointed periods and heavy legs in the second half.

While Racing have struggled to convert draws into victories recently, their attacking output remains consistent. They have found the back of the net in seven of their last eight matches, but a persistent inability to hold clean sheets has seen them concede in six of those fixtures.

Despite their miserable losing streak, Defensa y Justicia have shown they can still land blows on the counter. They managed to score in away defeats against Independiente and Gimnasia Mendoza, proving their forward line remains capable even when they are outplayed.

The combination of Racing's continental fatigue and Defensa's ongoing struggles sets up an open cup tie. Trusting either side to control the full 90 minutes carries unnecessary risk, making the goals markets the most logical place to find value.