Rosario Central vs Newell’s
Rosario Central are experiencing a slump at the moment. Last Saturday, they ended up losing 2-1 away at relegation candidates Gimnasia LP despite having taken the first lead. As a result, El Canalla are without a win in their last three league games, having drawn one and lost two in that time, which keeps them on five points in group A. As a result, Miguel Russo’s men have been displaced from the Copa Sudamericana spots in the aggregate table, now trailing tenth-placed Racing Club by one point. On a positive note, Central seem unbeatable at home: they are on 23 matches without defeat, winning 11 and drawing 12 since losing to Banfield 1-0 in August 2022. Playmaker Ignacio Malcorra is expected to return after missing the last game injured.
Newell’s Old Boys arrive at the city derby in the middle of a tough moment. Last Sunday, the team succumbed to an unexpected 1-0 home defeat to Estudiantes (who hadn’t yet won in this competition). That result means La Lepra are on four league games without a win (drawing two and losing two), staying on eight points in group B. In fact, they remain out of the Copa Sudamericana spots in the aggregate table, trailing the last qualifying berth by five points. Furthermore, Newell’s collected a single point from the last nine on offer on away turf in domestic action.
Another huge derby between teams that have a massive rivalry, and I can’t understand why Rosario Central are not the favorites here considering their impressive streak at home and Newell’s poor away record so I’ll have to go with Central, who will have playmaker Malcorra back, to at least avoid a defeat.