Boca vs Newell’s
Boca Juniors continue to struggle in the Copa Liga Profesional. Following coach Jorge Almiron’s departure, the team drew 1-1 away at San Lorenzo under interim boss Mariano Herron. El Xeneize are winless in their last three matches in this competition (drawing two and losing one) to make it 12 points in as many rounds in group B (only one above bottom-placed Lanus). As a result, the side remain out of the Copa Libertadores’ spots in the aggregate table (trailing fourth-placed Rosario Central by three). At home, Boca won two, drew two and lost two in this competition so far. Marcos Rojo, Frank Fabra and Ezequiel Fernandez remain sidelined.
Newell’s Old Boys are going through a difficult moment. Last Sunday, the team showed another worrying performance and lost to Sarmiento 1-0 at home in a boring game. La Lepra are winless in their last three Copa Liga Profesional matches (one draw and two defeats without even scoring in that spell). The side remain on 15 points in 12 matches, which keeps them out of the playoff zone in group B and almost without chances of clinching a Copa Sudamericana ticket.
They both play almost for nothing as they are out of any chance of getting a Copa Libertadores (Boca) or Sudamericana (Newell´s) ticket, but Boca showed signs of life in the midweek draw at San Lorenzo, so even though they’ve been tough to trust I expect them to bounce at home, put the Copa Libertadores final defeat behind against this Newell’s that has struggled to score lately and won’t have 3 strikers due to injury: Schor, Aguirre and Sordo.