Rosario Central vs Newell’s
Rosario Central returned to winning ways after Miguel Russo’s departure. Last Monday, the team secured an important 1-0 away success at Gimnasia LP with Matias Lequi as interim boss, thanks to a strike from Tomas O’Connor in the 79th minute. El Canalla put an end to their two-match losing streak in league action and made it 12 points in nine Liga Profesional rounds. Central claimed a single victory across their last six at home in domestic action, drawing three and losing two. Interim coach Matias Lequi has all his regulars at his disposal for Saturday’s derby.
Newell’s Old Boys played their worst match under coach Sebastian Mendez last time out, when they lost 4-1 to Estudiantes at home despite having taken the first lead. La Lepra made it three league matches without a win (two stalemates and one loss), which keeps them on 11 points after nine Liga Profesional rounds and out of the Copa Sudamericana spots in the aggregate table. On a positive note, Newell’s took four points from six on offer as the visiting side since the new man in charge’s arrival. Angelo Martino returns from suspension while Ever Banega returns and Armando Mendez remains sidelined.
Another edition of the huge Rosario derby, without a doubt the most important game of the season for both teams. Despite the coach change due to health reasons, Rosario Central is in much better form than this very poor Newell’s that won only 1 of their last 6 games and is coming from a big 1-4 defeat at home. Ever Banega will be back but they will still miss Mendez in defense, so I have to go with the hosts to win this derby that they’ve been dominating lately drawing 4 and losing 3 in the last 7 times they met.