Analysis The numbers behind the result
Gimnasia edge tight contest despite lower xG
Gimnasia's 1-0 victory slightly flattered them on the balance of play, with Central Cordoba posting a higher xG (1.49 vs 1.20) despite their lower possession (37%). The hosts' 63% dominance in possession translated into more shots (21 vs 8) but poorer quality chances, with 11 attempts from outside the box compared to Cordoba's 6 shots from dangerous areas.
The decisive moment came in the 66th minute when Modica converted Cingolani's assist - one of just 7 Gimnasia shots on target from their 21 attempts. Cordoba's more clinical approach (3 shots on target from 8 attempts) was undone by Rigamonti's 3 saves, while their 5 offsides disrupted promising attacks. Gimnasia's 6 blocked shots showed defensive resilience against a side that created better chances per shot.
The key stat: Cordoba's 1.49 xG without scoring - their finishing let them down despite creating higher-quality chances than the hosts.