Ángel Di Maria Set for Emotional Return as Rosario Central Host Godoy Cruz

This Saturday at 4:00 PM local time, Rosario Central kick off their Clausura 2025 campaign in Argentina’s Betano Tournament by hosting Godoy Cruz at a sold-out Gigante de Arroyito. The spotlight is firmly on Ángel Di Maria, who returns to his boyhood club at age 37, fulfilling a lifelong dream and reigniting fan enthusiasm.

Central, coached by Miguel Ángel Russo, aim to bounce back from a penalty shootout defeat in the Copa Argentina and a quarterfinal exit in the previous league. Di Maria’s debut headlines the match, although attackers Enzo Copetti and Santiago López will miss out due to injury.

Godoy Cruz arrive in good form after topping their Copa Sudamericana group unbeaten (3W, 3D), but their domestic away form is troubling, with no wins in their last four league trips and three straight losses without scoring.

Rosario Central boast a strong recent record against Godoy Cruz, with four unbeaten matches (3W, 1D) and two consecutive 1-0 home wins. With the buzz around Di Maria’s return and a favorable head-to-head, Central appear poised to start their Clausura campaign on a high note.