Atletico Rafaela 1–0 Colegiales | Primera Nacional | 7 June 2026

Atletico Rafaela secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Colegiales on Sunday evening at the Estadio Nuevo Monumental, climbing further up the Primera Nacional standings. The solitary goal, scored midway through the second half, proved enough to separate two sides that battled fiercely in a match dominated by defensive discipline and midfield congestion.

Match Overview

The encounter was never likely to be a goal-fest given both teams’ recent form – Rafaela had kept three clean sheets in their previous five outings, while Colegiales had scored just twice in their last four away matches. The hosts enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half but struggled to break down a well-organised Colegiales defence that sat deep and looked to counter on the break.

Key Moment

The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute when Rafaela’s left winger, Franco Martínez, cut inside from the flank and unleashed a low drive from 20 metres that deflected off a defender’s boot and skimmed past Colegiales goalkeeper Lucas Álvarez. The goal was initially credited as an own goal but was later awarded to Martínez after replays showed his shot was on target before the deflection.

Tactical Story

Rafaela manager Rubén Forestello set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, instructing his full-backs to push high and overload the wide areas. Colegiales, under Juan Carlos Olguín, responded with a compact 4-4-1-1, relying on quick transitions through midfielder Tomás Giménez. However, Rafaela’s double pivot of Agustín Conti and Franco Lazzaroni effectively neutralised those threats, winning 12 tackles between them.

Standout Players

• Franco Martínez (Atletico Rafaela) – Not only scored the decisive goal but also created two clear chances and completed four dribbles.
• Agustín Conti (Atletico Rafaela) – Dominated the midfield battle with seven interceptions and a 90% pass completion rate.
• Lucas Álvarez (Colegiales) – Despite the defeat, the goalkeeper made six saves, including a stunning tip-over from a Rafaela header in the 78th minute.

Season Impact

The victory lifts Atletico Rafaela to sixth place in the Primera Nacional table with 28 points from 16 matches, keeping them firmly in the promotion playoff race. Colegiales, meanwhile, remain in 14th position and have now lost four of their last six matches, leaving them just four points above the relegation zone.

With a favourable run of fixtures ahead, Rafaela will look to build on this momentum when they travel to San Martín de Tucumán next weekend, while Colegiales face a crucial home match against Almirante Brown.