Newell’s vs Platense
Newell’s Old Boys wasted their last chance to advance to the Copa Liga Profesional playoffs in round 14, when they lost 1-0 away at Defensa y Justicia. That result represented their second consecutive defeat in league action and left them out of the knockout stage. La Lepra accumulated 21 points in group B and are now trailing the last Copa Sudamericana spot in the aggregate table by three. At home, Newell’s won only one of the last six (along with two stalemates and three losses). With Ian Glavinovich already recovered from his muscle injury, all regulars are at Mauricio Larriera’s disposal to host Platense in the Liga Profesional’s opener on Friday.
Platense closed up their Copa Liga Profesional campaign in a happy way, beating Sarmiento 1-0 away from home thanks to Juan Saborido’s goal. El Calamar made it two consecutive victories in league action and, having lost only one of the last seven in this competition (three wins and three draws), they accumulated 18 points (six behind the last continental berth in the aggregate table so far). Furthermore, Favio Orsi-Sergio Gomez’s men made it three away matches unbeaten, winning two and drawing one.
I don’t like this Newell’s at all and even less when they play at home and try to dominate because they don’t have the resources to play good football. Platense is not much better but at least they know how to defend, they conceded only 4 goals in their last 8 games, and should make this a tight game where they can avoid a defeat.