Tucumán vs Córdoba SdE: Overview

Atlético Tucumán and Central Córdoba battled to a hard-fought 1-1 draw in a crucial Liga Profesional de Fútbol fixture at the Estadio Monumental José Fierro on Saturday evening. The hosts, who entered the match with formidable home form this season, started brightly and were rewarded when Leandro Díaz broke the deadlock in the 19th minute with a clinical finish. However, the visitors from Santiago del Estero showed remarkable resilience, finding an equalizer through Matías Perello after the hour mark – a goal initially questioned but ultimately confirmed by VAR review.

The atmosphere at the Tucumán stronghold was electric throughout, with the passionate local supporters urging their team forward in search of a winner. The tension reached its peak in the 77th minute when the home side thought they had secured all three points, only for VAR to intervene once again and disallow what would have been the decisive goal, much to the frustration of Lucas Pusineri on the sidelines.

This result does little to improve either side's position in the Liga Profesional standings, with both teams continuing to occupy spots in the lower half of the table. For "Atlético Tucumán", it represents two valuable home points dropped in their quest to climb away from the relegation conversation, while "Central Córdoba" will view the away point as a positive step in their own survival campaign. The draw extends Tucumán's unbeaten run against Central Córdoba at home but fails to provide the momentum boost either side desperately needed as the season progresses.

The match epitomized the unpredictable nature of Argentina's top flight, where form and home advantage can often count for little in the heat of battle. For neutral observers, the Atlético Tucumán Central Córdoba match offered a glimpse into the competitive balance of the Liga Profesional, where margins remain incredibly tight across the division.

"We created enough chances to win the game, but lacked the final touch today. The disallowed goal was a difficult moment for us, but these are the realities of modern football with VAR. I cannot fault my players' effort – they gave everything on the pitch," reflected "Atlético Tucumán" coach Lucas Pusineri after the match.

"To come to a difficult venue like Tucumán and secure a point shows the character we're developing. We stayed disciplined defensively and took our opportunity when it came. This result gives us something to build on," stated Omar de Felippe, "Central Córdoba's" satisfied coach.

"We're disappointed not to get the three points at home. We started well and took the lead, but couldn't finish the job. The VAR decision in the second half was tough to take, but we have to accept it and move forward," admitted Leandro Díaz, scorer of Tucumán's goal.

"This is a valuable point for us. We knew Tucumán is strong at home, but we showed great spirit to fight back and could even have won it late on. Our defensive organization was key today," explained Matías Perello, whose equalizer earned Central Córdoba a share of the spoils.

"Both teams showed why they're struggling this season – moments of quality but lacking consistency. The VAR interventions were correct, but they certainly changed the complexion of what was an otherwise entertaining contest between two sides desperate for points," analyzed former Argentina international Juan Pablo Sorín in his role as a television pundit.

Possession: "Atlético Tucumán" dominated the ball with 58% possession compared to "Central Córdoba's" 42%, reflecting the home side's territorial advantage throughout much of the contest.

Shots: The hosts registered 14 shots in total with 6 on target, while the visitors managed 8 attempts with just 3 finding the frame of the goal – a statistic that underlines Tucumán's offensive superiority despite the even scoreline.

Set Pieces: "Atlético Tucumán" earned 9 corners to Central Córdoba's 3, further highlighting their forward momentum, particularly during a dominant first-half display.

Disciplinary Record: The match saw 6 yellow cards distributed evenly between the teams (3 each), with Perello, Martínez, and Galván cautioned for Central Córdoba, while Juárez, Ferreira, and Laméndola entered the referee's book for the home side.

Key Performer Stats:

• Leandro Díaz (Tucumán): 1 goal, 3 shots on target, 85% pass completion
• Matías Perello (Central Córdoba): 1 goal, 2 shots, 1 yellow card
• Matías Mansilla (Tucumán): 2 crucial saves, 68% distribution accuracy
• Alan Aguerre (Central Córdoba): 5 saves, including 2 from inside the box

The Atlético Tucumán Central Córdoba statistics reveal a pattern where the home side created more opportunities but lacked clinical finishing, while the visitors made the most of their limited chances to secure a valuable Liga Profesional point on the road.

19' (0-1): Leandro Díaz breaks the deadlock for "Atlético Tucumán" with a precise finish after excellent build-up play involving Carlos Auzqui down the right flank. The striker's composed side-footed effort gave Aguerre no chance in the Central Córdoba goal.

32': Yellow card for Damián Martínez of Tucumán following a tactical foul to halt a promising Central Córdoba counter-attack led by David Zalazar.

45+2': Close chance for the visitors as Franco Alfonso's glancing header drifts narrowly wide of Mansilla's far post – a warning sign for the hosts heading into the break.

58': Double substitution by Omar de Felippe, introducing fresh attacking options to chase the equalizer. The tactical switch from 4-4-2 to a more adventurous 4-3-3 formation would soon pay dividends.

61' (1-1): GOAL for "Central Córdoba"! Matías Perello converts from close range after a scramble following a corner. Initially flagged for offside, VAR review confirms the goal stands, silencing the home crowd.

77': Drama as "Atlético Tucumán" have what they believe is a winning goal disallowed after VAR review detects a handball in the build-up. Fierce protests from the Tucumán players and coaching staff.

85': Alan Aguerre produces a spectacular fingertip save to deny Auzqui's curling effort destined for the top corner – preserving the point for Central Córdoba.

90+4': Final whistle blows on an entertaining but ultimately frustrating Atlético Tucumán Central Córdoba encounter, with both teams having to settle for a Liga Profesional point that does little to boost their respective positions.

The Atlético Tucumán Central Córdoba rivalry has historically favored the Tucumán side, particularly in matches played at the Estadio Monumental José Fierro. Prior to this encounter, "Atlético Tucumán" had remained unbeaten in their last three home matches against Central Córdoba, recording 2 wins and 1 draw while scoring 5 goals and conceding just 1.

In their most recent meeting before this match, Tucumán secured a convincing 2-0 victory in February 2025, with goals from Leandro Díaz and Cristian Menéndez. The overall head-to-head record now stands at 6 wins for Tucumán, 3 for Central Córdoba, and 4 draws across all competitions since Central Córdoba's promotion to Argentina's top flight.

Key individual battles shaped this Liga Profesional confrontation, particularly the duel between Tucumán's experienced defender Marcelo Ortiz and Central Córdoba's forward Franco Alfonso. Ortiz largely controlled this matchup until tiring in the later stages, allowing Alfonso more influence in the final quarter. Similarly, the midfield contest between Franco Nicola and Yuri Casermeiro proved pivotal, with neither able to establish consistent dominance – mirroring the balanced nature of the overall result.

Statistically, the historical confrontation between these provincial rivals has typically produced tight, low-scoring affairs, with only one of their last six meetings seeing more than 2.5 goals scored. This latest 1-1 draw continues that pattern and maintains the competitive balance between two sides who have developed a healthy respect for each other while navigating the challenges of establishing themselves as Liga Profesional regulars outside Argentina's traditional football powerhouses.