Newell’s – Banfield

Thanks to a strike from Ramiro Sordo in the 79th minute, Newell’s Old Boys claimed a hard-fought 1-0 home success over Patronato to return to one of the qualifying places in group A. Having lost only one of their last seven league games (five victories and one draw), La Lepra accumulated 19 points in ten games. Javier Sanguinetti’s men claimed four victories and suffered one defeat at their own stadium, having won the last three.

Banfield wasted a big chance of approaching the qualifying places last Sunday, when they suffered a 2-1 home defeat to River Plate despite having taken the first lead. Having lost four of their last six league matches (along with two successes), El Taladro remain on 14 points, four behind fourth-placed Defensa y Justicia with four rounds to go. However, Diego Dabove’s men have been confident on away turf in this competition, taking ten points so far as a product of three victories, one draw and one loss. Centre back Luciano Lollo saw a red card against River Plate last Sunday and is suspended here.

Banfield has very small chances of getting a playoff spot so their coach announced that they will very likely rest most of his regulars here ahead of next week’s Copa Sudamericana game, so I have to go with the hosts here to get the 3 points they need.

BET: Newell’s -0.25 @ 2.01