Preview: Central Cordoba vs. Newell's Old Boys - prediction, team news, lineups

While the hosts have drawn each of their last three league outings, the visitors head to Santiago del Estero on a four-game drawing streak in the Argentine Primera Division.

Match preview

Following goalless stalemates against San Lorenzo and Gimnasia, Central Cordoba played out a 1-1 draw with Estudiantes last weekend, despite facing a barrage of 27 shots while seeing just 38% of the ball.

Not only have El Ferroviario drawn each of their last three matches, but they have also drawn five of their previous seven, recording one victory and one defeat in the process.

Although Central Cordoba are currently enjoying a five-game unbeaten run, they have managed to win only one of their last eight league outings, taking eight points from a possible 24 since the beginning of May.

It is also worth noting that only the bottom three teams have scored fewer goals than Central Cordoba's 17 this season, although Abel Balbo's men have kept things tight at the opposite end of the pitch, achieving three shutouts in the past four matches.

Meanwhile, Newell's Old Boys came from 2-0 down to snatch a point against Gimnasia last time out, with Guillermo Ortiz and Lisandro Montenegro grabbing the goals for the hosts.

As a result, La Lepra enter Friday's clash on the back of four straight stalemates, having drawn with Sarmiento, Union and Huracan prior to the draw against Gimnasia.

Thanks to those stalemates, Gabriel Heinze's side have avoided defeat in each of their last eight matches across all competitions, picking up three wins and five draws while also finishing five points clear atop their Copa Sudamericana group.

In the Primera Division, however, Newell's Old Boys have managed to win just two of their previous 11 games, recording six draws and three defeats along the way, so they will be determined to start turning draws into wins.

On a brighter note, only three sides have conceded fewer goals than La Lepra's 19, while the Rosario outfit have kept 10 clean sheets in 22 league outings this year, giving them a shutout rate of 45%.

Central Cordoba Argentine Primera Division form:

L

D

W

D

D

D

Newell's Old Boys Argentine Primera Division form:

L

W

D

D

D

D

Newell's Old Boys form (all competitions):

D

W

D

D

D

D

Team News

Central Cordoba are still without veteran forward Luis Miguel Rodriguez as the 38-year-old continues to recover from a facial fracture, while left-back Marcelo Benitez is sidelined due to a muscle injury.

Consequently, Lucas Gamba will continue to operate as the lone striker in a 5-4-1 formation, while Jose Amando Gomez is expected to retain his role at left-back.

Newell's Old Boys, on the other hand, are still without left winger Francisco Gonzalez, who made just two league appearances at the start of the season before sustaining a cruciate ligament rupture.

Brian Aguirre, Jorge Recalde and Ramiro Sordo are expected to operate in the visitors' forward line, with Marcos Portillo, Ivan Gomez and Cristian Ferreira occupying the midfield roles in a 4-3-3 formation.

Central Cordoba possible starting lineup:

Mansilla; Rius, Blasi, Pereyra, Goni, Gomez; Farioli, Pitton, Maciel, Besozzi; Gamba

Newell's Old Boys possible starting lineup:

Hoyos; Mosquera, Velazquez, Ortiz, Pitton; Portillo, Gomez, Ferreira; Aguirre, Recalde, Sordo

We say: Central Cordoba 1-1 Newell's Old Boys

When you couple Central Cordoba's recent record with Newell's Old Boy's current form, all the signs point towards another tense and cagey encounter on Friday, as both sides have struggled to turn draws into wins of late.

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