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

Both teams are unbeaten in the opening six rounds of the league's second phase, with the hosts sitting third and Newell's second before the action resumes.

Match preview

Poised to reach the Primera Division summit on Monday, leading lowly Patronato by two goals at Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, Newell's Old Boys were unable to finish the job, and conceded deep into stoppage time to draw 2-2.

Paraguayan defender Gustavo Velazquez and young winger Ramiro Sordo scored at the beginning and end of the first half respectively, but two lapses after the interval saw Javier Sanguinetti's side come up just short.

Therefore, Gimnasia y Esgrima lead the table on goal difference, with the teams locked together on 14 points before the seventh round gets under way.

Newell's finished sixth in the first phase, and having kept four consecutive clean sheets before this week's aberration, they will be targeting a significant improvement in the second.

The side from Santa Fe last won a national title back in 2013, and after nearly a decade of drought, La Lepra are overdue some silverware.

Saturday's opponents are from more modest stock, and have only ever been crowned Primera B champions before, but Platense host their more illustrious counterparts trailing by just two points in the table.

It was Newell's that came out on top when the clubs last clashed in April, with a 3-1 defeat contributing to Platense's 13th-placed finish in the 2022 season's opening phase.

Though the capital city club had gone winless in three matches before meeting Independiente on Monday night, their start to the second stage of the campaign had seen them pick up nine points from the first five matches.

Omar De Felippe watched his side improve their fortunes still further at Estadio Libertadores de America, as they fought back from a goal down and won 3-1 - despite absorbing plenty of pressure and seeing little of the ball.

An undefeated start leaves Platense potentially just a win from top spot, but Newell's are in similarly resolute form and are unlikely to roll over on Saturday.

Platense Argentine Primera Division form:

Newell's Old Boys Argentine Primera Division form:

Team News

Newell's are set to be forced into a change to their starting XI on Saturday, as left-winger Francisco Gonzalez is expected to join Hungarian champions Ferencvaros. Therefore, "Panchito" could have already played his last game for El Rojinegro.

In addition, Pablo Perez remains missing for the visitors due to a muscle strain, but they otherwise have no new injury concerns to contend with.

Juan Manuel Garcia will continue as a lone striker, and six-goal top scorer Ramiro Sordo provides support from out wide.

Meanwhile, both veteran midfielder Hector Canteros (calf) and defender Juan Infante (back) are likely to be sidelined again for Platense.

Hoping to be fit enough to return this weekend, Gonzalo Bergessio should lead the line at the head of a 3-4-2-1 formation, featuring support from former Lazio forward Mauro Zarate.

Platense possible starting lineup:

Ledesma; Diaz, Suso, Pignani; Morgantini, Gomez, Villalba, Costa; Zarate, Sabella; Contreras

Newell's Old Boys possible starting lineup:

Macagno; Jacob, Lima, Ditta, Velazquez, Vangioni; Garro, Sforza, Fernandez, Sordo; Garcia

We say: Platense 1-2 Newell's Old Boys

Newell's have won each of their three away fixtures so far, and having recently kept opponents shut out for a total of nearly 400 minutes, they generally prove difficult to break down.

Something must surely give between two in-form sides, and it is Platense who will see their impressive streak ended.

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