Estudiantes are looking to rise from defeat in their last game as they prepare to host Newell’s Old Boys. The loss to Independiente meant they dropped to sixth place, with seven points while at the same time, Newell’s Old Boys continued with the good start to the second phase, winning to stay top of 10 points. Estudiantes’ loss in the last game was their second in the last five matches and they have just one clean sheet in those five games. They’ve scored more than a goal in just one of the five matches, a 2-1 win over Sarmiento. At home, while they haven’t lost a league game inside 90 minutes, they haven’t also kept a clean sheet in the last five league games at home. In three of the five matches, they’ve scored twice. They haven’t really prevailed in recent matches against Newell’s Old Boys – they are winless in the last three meetings.
Newell’s Old Boys are unbeaten in their last three meetings with Estudiantes – they won the last two and going into this game they have the better run. Newell’s Old Boys are unbeaten in their last four matches ahead of this game and they have three straight clean sheets. They’ve however failed to score more than a goal in four of the five matches and as a result, three of their last five matches have produced under 2.5 goals. At one point in the last five matches, Newell’s Old Boys conceded three goals. They aren’t the strongest away from home, even though they are coming from two straight wins on the road. Newell’s Old Boys have failed to score in two of their last five matches and three of the five have produced under 2.5 goals.
These two sides aren’t the best scorers around; most of their recent matches have ended either in under 2.5 goals or with the teams on the receiving end in high scoring games. Newell’s Old Boys have done well, but the best of their recent games has come from defending. That will be key for them to handle their hosts, whose attack has been doing well. Under 2.5 goals looks possible here, going by the teams’ recent performances.