Preview: Newell's Old Boys vs. Argentinos Juniors - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors head into the game on a run of three straight victories against La Lepra an Pechofrios and will look to keep the juggernaut rolling.

Match preview

Newell's Old Boys maintained their fine start to the new Primera Division campaign as they claimed a 1-0 victory over a resilient Talleres side on Tuesday.

In a cagey affair at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Ramiro Sordo's opening-minute strike was enough to separate the sides as the hosts were condemned to a second straight defeat.

Prior to that, Javier Sanguinetti's men kicked off the season with a 2-1 victory at Banfield on June 4 before returning home to play out a goalless draw with San Lorenzo six days later.

Newell's Old Boys head into Monday's game unbeaten in each of their last six home games in the league, stretching back to last November's 2-1 loss to Velez Sarfield.

While La Lepra an Pechofrios will look to keep the juggernaut rolling, next up is the challenge of an opposing side against whom they have suffered defeat in each of their three encounters since 2018.

Like the hosts, Argentinos Juniors returned to winning ways last time out when they edged out a dogged Independiente side 2-1 on home turf.

Thiago Nuss and Fausto Vera scored either side of Leandro Benegas's 44th-minute equaliser to hand El Bicho all three points at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Gabriel Milito's side have now won two of their opening three games — scoring four goals and shipping three — with a 1-0 loss at Sarmiento on June 11 being the exception.

Argentinos Juniors have failed to taste victory on the road in six consecutive Primera Division outings, picking up one point from a possible 18 since their 1-0 win over Rosario Central back in November.

Newell's Old Boys Argentine Primera Division form:

Newell's Old Boys form (all competitions):

Argentinos Juniors Argentine Primera Division form:

Argentinos Juniors form (all competitions):

Team News

Newell's Old Boys will make do with the absence of veteran midfielder Pablo Perez as the 36-year-old is currently recuperating from a muscle strain.

With his strike against Talleres last time out, Sordo has now scored twice in the opening three games and the 21-year-old should retain his role in the final third.

As for Argentinos Juniors, Milito will be unable to call upon Pablo Minissale, who is set to sit out his 10th straight game through a meniscus injury.

Gabriel Florentin is also a doubt for the visitors after the 23-year-old midfielder came off injured in the game against Independiente last time out.

Should he fail to shake off his injury, 21-year-old Gaston Veron will push for a starting role, teaming up with Vera and Gabriel Avalos in the final third.

Newell's Old Boys possible starting lineup:

Macagno; Mendez, Velazquez, Ditta, Luciano; Fernandez, Portillo, Balzi; Garcia, Gonzalez, Sordo

Argentinos Juniors possible starting lineup:

Lanzillota; Sanchez, Torren, Villalba; Nuss, Moyano, Vera, Carabajal, Bittolo; Avalos, Florentin

We say: Newell's Old Boys 1-1 Argentinos Juniors

Newell's Old Boys and Argentinos Juniors have kicked off their campaign on a solid note and will look to put together a fine run of form. The visitors head into the game unbeaten in seven straight outings and we predict they will do just enough to come away with a share of the spoils against an evenly-matched home side.

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