Newell’s – Racing
Newell’s Old Boys are going through a terrible moment of form. Last Saturday, the team showed a poor performance and succumbed to a devastating 1-0 away defeat at Rosario Central in a heated city derby. Sebastian Mendez’s men made it four league games without a win, drawing two and losing two, as they continue producing an irregular campaign, with 11 points in the Liga Profesional and far away from the continental spots in the aggregate table. Furthermore, Newell’s secured a single point from the last nine on offer at Estadio Marcelo Bielsa. Left back Angelo Martino is suspended for Friday after seeing a red card at Rosario Central. Playmaker Ever Banega will miss out due to a muscle injury.
Racing Club are going through an irregular slump in the league. Last time out, the team played far below expectations and succumbed to a surprising 1-0 home defeat to Gimnasia LP. As a result, La Academia failed to become Liga Profesional leaders: they remain on 17 points after winning only one of the last four in this competition (along with one stalemate and two defeats). However, the side remain occupying one of the Copa Libertadores’ spots in the aggregate table. On away turf, Racing have been winless in their last three in domestic action, drawing one and losing two without even scoring. On Tuesday 13, Racing won 2-0 away over Huachipato FC in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16.
Newell’s are in real trouble after losing the derby plus their recent bad results, won’t have veteran Ever Banega, and they have one of the worst attacks in the league with only 6 goals scored in 10 games, but they will face this irregular Racing that might rest some starters due to their midweek trip to Chile in Copa Sudamericana, and even if they don’t, they won’t have their best striker and top scorer Adrian Martinez who is suspended, so I’ll go for the UNDER.