Two teams separated by just a single point in the second phase of the Argentine Primera Division will square off on Friday at Estadio Marcelo Bielsa as Newell's Old Boys host Estudiantes.
On matchday eight, La Lepra settled for a 1-1 draw with San Lorenzo, putting them in 15th place, narrowly behind the club from La Plata in 11th, with the latter defeating Gimnasia 4-1.
Match preview
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So far, in the second phase of this competition, Newell's Old Boys have done little to help or hurt their chances of earning a place at the Copa Sudamericana or the Copa Libertadores next season.
La Lepra have yet to win or lose consecutive league fixtures in this round, putting them 12th in the overall table with 32 points, two back of a place in the Sudamericana next year and seven back of a spot in the Libertadores.
Sebastian Mendez has seen his side go winless in their last two domestic home contests, failing to score on both occasions.
Just like in the opening round of this domestic campaign, Newell's have not been decisive in the attacking third in this phase, scoring the joint third-fewest goals (five).
Newell's are undefeated in the second round when scoring first but have also squandered two points when netting the opener, while they have not claimed a single point when conceding the opening goal in this phase, failing to score in every one of those instances.
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An impressive victory on matchday eight has kept Estudiantes in line for a second successive trip to the Copa Libertadores next season.
With just one victory in their previous six league contests, however, their margin for error is razor-thin as they are currently holding onto the final automatic spot in the Copa Libertadores group stage on goal difference over Talleres.
Eduardo Dominguez's men have shown solid discipline at the back all season, conceding a goal or fewer in six of their eight second-round matches and collecting four clean sheets.
Entering this match, though, El Leon are in a minor slump away from home, winless in four games as the visitors across all competitions.
Los Pincharratas have won their last three competitive matches against Newell's, failing to concede in any of those triumphs, including a 1-0 victory at Estadio Marcelo Bielsa in the 2023 Copa de la Liga.
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Team News
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In their previous domestic encounter versus San Lorenzo, Newell's were missing Rodrigo Fernandez due to a sprained knee, and Ian Glavinovich sat out with a leg injury.
Ignacio Ramirez scored five minutes into their previous domestic encounter, the first goal in the second phase for the striker from Uruguay.
Last Sunday, Javier Altamirano was sidelined for Estudiantes because of a head injury, Mauro Mendez has an ACL issue and Santiago Flores was unavailable with a muscle strain.
Santiago Ascacibar put his side in front against Gimnasia early into the second half before Guido Carrillo netted a brace and captain Jose Sosa rounded out the scoring by converting a penalty in stoppage time.
Newell's Old Boys possible starting lineup:
Macagno; A. Mendez, Velazquez, Salcedo, Martino; I. Mendez, J. Fernandez; Cardozo, Carabajal, Gonzalez; Ramirez
Estudiantes possible starting lineup:
Mansilla; Mancuso, F. Fernandez, F. Rodriguez, Benedetti; Ascacibar, Perez; Palacios, Sosa, Piatti; Carrillo
We say: Newell's Old Boys 1-0 Estudiantes
Despite the impressive showing by Estudiantes against Gimnasia, they have not been nearly as potent away from home in this competition, while we believe Newell's are due for a break.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
