The second round of the 2026 Apertura brings an intriguing clash between Lanús and Unión de Santa Fe, scheduled for Thursday evening at the Estadio Ciudad de Lanús – Néstor Díaz Pérez. The home side will be eager to extend their excellent start to the year, while the visitors aim to secure their first victory of the new campaign. Both teams come into this fixture with contrasting momentum, setting the stage for a compelling encounter in the Liga Profesional de Fútbol.

Lanús: Form and Key Statistics

Lanús have begun 2026 in impressive fashion, winning both of their official matches so far. They opened the year with a 4-1 triumph over Sarmiento de La Banda in the Copa Argentina, followed by a thrilling 3-2 away victory against San Lorenzo in the league. That result placed them second in the early standings, confirming their attacking strength and consistency. Over their last five matches in all competitions, Lanús have recorded three wins, one draw, and one defeat, averaging 2.0 goals scored and 1.0 conceded per game.

At home, the “Granate” have been particularly dominant. They have triumphed in seven of their last eight home fixtures across all competitions and have not lost at half time in their last 21 home matches. Moreover, at least one team failed to score before the break in 38 of their last 40 games, highlighting their defensive discipline during the opening stages. In Liga Profesional play, Lanús have also led at half time in six of their last ten matches, a trend that could prove decisive once again.

• Ranking: 2nd in Liga Profesional de Fútbol


• Last match: Won 3-2 vs San Lorenzo (23 January 2026)


• Season record: 1 win, 0 draws, 0 losses


• Average goals: 3.0 scored, 2.0 conceded

Returning to their home ground for the first time this year, Lanús will look to build on their strong 2025 home campaign and maintain their early momentum in front of their supporters.

Unión Santa Fe: Form and Key Statistics

Unión Santa Fe began their 2026 Apertura with a goalless draw against Platense, a result that left them ninth in the table after the opening round. Despite failing to score, the “Tatengue” showed defensive solidity, continuing a pattern from recent months. In their last five matches, Unión have registered one win, three draws, and one defeat, averaging just 0.4 goals scored and 0.4 conceded per game.

While their attack has struggled to find rhythm, Unión’s away form remains encouraging. They collected four victories in their last seven away fixtures during the previous season, defeating sides such as Racing Club, Instituto, Gimnasia, and Newell’s. This resilience on the road could serve them well as they face one of the toughest venues in the league. However, their recent scoring record suggests a cautious approach: Under 0.5 total goals have been recorded in four of their last ten league matches, and in three of their last eleven away games in the competition.

• Ranking: 9th in Liga Profesional de Fútbol


• Last match: Drew 0-0 vs Platense (22 January 2026)


• Season record: 0 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses


• Average goals: 0.0 scored, 0.0 conceded

Unión were one of the pleasant surprises of the previous campaign’s regular phase, but their early playoff exit left room for improvement. As they begin a new season, consistency and efficiency in front of goal will be key to matching or surpassing last year’s performance.

Lanús vs Unión Santa Fe: Analysis and Prediction

Historically, meetings between Lanús and Unión Santa Fe have been closely contested. Their last head-to-head ended 1-1 in September 2024, and in their last five encounters, Lanús have yet to win (four draws and one defeat). On average, these matches have produced 0.8 goals scored by Lanús and 1.4 conceded, suggesting a balanced but low-scoring rivalry.

However, current form points towards a shift in momentum. Lanús’ attacking efficiency and home advantage make them favorites to break their winless streak against Unión. The visitors’ defensive organization could keep the scoreline tight, but their limited offensive output may hinder their chances of an upset. Statistical trends also indicate a cautious affair, with Under 2.5 goals occurring in 60% of recent matches involving Unión and Both Teams To Score – No in 54% of combined fixtures.

Given the data and early-season performances, Lanús appear better positioned to claim all three points, especially considering their strong home record and attacking momentum.

Lanús vs Unión Santa Fe prediction by BetMines:
Home Win (1) with a probability of 43%.