Newell’s Old Boys are highly threatened by relegation after over 55 consecutive seasons in the top flight: the team are now two points above the drop zone. Last season, they ended up in 15th spot and were knocked out of the Superliga Cup by Gimnasia LP in the first round after a 3-1 home defeat, which stopped a three-game unbeaten run of two wins and one draw. Coach Hector Bidoglio left the club after that game but they will oversee the debut of coach Frank Kudelka, a much better manager.
Central Cordoba from Santiago del Estero are back in the First Division after 48 years thanks to their victory on penalties against Sarmiento in the second promotion playoff in June (both legs ended in draws, 1-1 and 0-0). It’s relevant to consider that El Ferroviario were in the third tier during the previous season, so that’s their second consecutive promotion.
Central Cordoba coach Gustavo Coleoni asked for reinforcements after the team’s promotion and the board brought in 19 new players, and also 13 players waved goodbye and a few of those were important for the club like Alexis Ferrero, Alfredo Ramirez and Javier Rossi.
Central Cordoba just got back to the top division, they will need time to adapt and with such a major squad rebuilding is not something that will happen overnight. Newell’s is in serious relegation trouble this season and they need to focus from day one, so I’m going here with a home win.