Blooming (Bolivia) vs Newell’s (Argentina)
Blooming are finding huge difficulties in the Copa Sudamericana. Last time out, they succumbed to a 2-0 away defeat to Audax Italiano. That loss left them bottom in the group E table with no points nor goals scored. They also are living a rough time in the league, sitting into the bottom spot of the relegation table, but the team were able to beat Aurora 2-1 at home last Sunday. As a result, they made it 12 points in 13 league games and stopped a four-game winless streak of two draws and two defeats in all competitions. As hosts, Blooming won three, drew two and lost five in 2023.
Newell’s Old Boys secured a massive victory last time out, beating Santos FC 1-0 at home thanks to a strike from Ivan Gomez in the 8th minute. Following that success, La Lepra are now group E leaders on nine points, five above Audax Italiano and their last opponents. On a sorry note, Gabriel Heinze’s men lost 1-0 away at Lanus last Saturday, dropping out of the continental spots in the league table (they accumulated 23 points in 17 matches). That loss also stopped a four-match unbeaten streak of two victories and two draws. On away turf, Newell’s have been winless in the last three, drawing one and losing two.
Blooming are pretty much eliminated from this competition after losing all 3 games without even scoring a goal, and I expect this to continue against Newell’s who might secure the 1st place of the group with a win.