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

The visitors are currently 27th in the table, boasting 18 points from their opening 18 matches, while Newell's Old Boys occupy 11th, picking up 27 points from their first 19 games of the campaign.

Match preview

Newell's Old Boys are six-time Primera Division champions, with their last success coming in 2013, but they have largely found it difficult to impress since then, finishing 21st, 15th, 10th, 19th and 11th in their last five campaigns.

Gabriel Heinze's side currently sit in 11th position in the table, boasting a record of seven wins, six draws and six defeats from their first 19 matches of the season to collect 27 points.

Newell's Old Boys are only actually three points behind eighth-placed Defensa y Justica, and they will bring a four-game unbeaten run into this contest, three of which have been wins.

Heinze's team recorded a 2-1 victory over Santos in the Copa Sudamericana last time out, while their last league game was away to Sarmiento at the start of the month, with the two teams playing out a goalless draw.

The Rosario-based outfit now have back-to-back league games against Union and Huracan before returning to Copa Sudamericana action at home to Audax Italiano at the end of the month.

Union, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of three straight league victories, beating Central Cordoba SdE, Huracan and Gimnasia La Plata during an impressive run.

Gustavo Munua's side have kept clean sheets in each of their last three games, and it is now almost one month since they last suffered defeat in Argentine's top flight.

El Tate sit 27th in the table despite their recent upturn, but they are now only three points behind 20th-placed Independiente and would certainly move up the division if their strong form continues.

Union secured a return to Argentine's top flight in 2014, and the team have finished 12th and 22nd in their last two campaigns, so their spot towards the bottom at this stage is not too much of a shock.

Newell's Old Boys Argentine Primera Division form:

D

D

W

L

W

D

Newell's Old Boys form (all competitions):

W

L

W

W

D

W

Union Argentine Primera Division form:

L

D

L

W

W

W

Team News

Newell's Old Boys will again be without the services of Pablo Perez and Fabian Angel on Monday due to knee problems, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape.

Jorge Recalde is the team's leading goalscorer this season with four, and the 31-year-old should be recalled in final third of the field, while Ramiro Sordo is also in line to start.

Djorkaeff Reasco has only managed one goal in 18 appearances this season, but he is again expected to lead the line for the home side on Monday.

As for Union, head coach Munua is expected to have a full squad for this contest, with the team not reporting any injury problems from their win over Gimnasia last time out.

It might be a case of same again in terms of team selection, although Bryan Castrillon's goal off the bench in the last game has placed him firmly in the manager's thinking for a starting role.

Castrillon is now the team's joint-leading goalscorer this season with two, and the 24-year-old could replace Jeronimo Domina in the centre-forward position.

Newell's Old Boys possible starting lineup:

Hoyos; Velazquez, Ortiz, Mansilla; Mendez, Montenegro, Sforza, Giani; Sordo, Reasco, Recalde

Union possible starting lineup:

Mele; Gerometta, Paz, Calderon, Corvalan, Zenon; Machuca, Roldan, Gordillo, Luna; Castrillon

We say: Newell's Old Boys 1-1 Union

Union's recent form has been excellent, and they will enter this match full of confidence. Newell's Old Boys are also unbeaten in their last four, though, and we are therefore struggling to separate them here, ultimately settling on a low-scoring draw.

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