Newell’s vs Lanus
Newell’s Old Boys produced another solid performance to earn three valuable points with a 1-0 away win over Platense, thanks to Santiago Solari’s first-half goal. La Lepra are now six Clausura matches unbeaten, with three wins and three draws, and returned the playoff places in Group A with 16 points. Frank Kudelka’s men are also close to securing their top-flight status well ahead of schedule, after spending much of the season appearing likely to face a relegation battle through the annual table. At home, Newell’s have gone nine matches unbeaten, with four wins and five draws. Lanús confirmed their recent upturn with a 2-1 home win over Estudiantes. They did not produce their best performance, but they were effective enough to secure another three points. It was their third consecutive victory, taking Mauricio Pellegrino’s men to 16 points in the Clausura and keeping El Granate in the playoff qualification places in Group A. They are also still in contention in the annual table, where they sit 11th, just one point behind the final position currently leading to next season’s Copa Sudamericana. Away, they have recorded two wins and two defeats in the Clausura. José Canale and Matías Sepúlveda will miss Saturday’s match, as they remain with their respective national teams for international commitments. In addition, Felipe Peña Biafore succumbed to a muscle problem and won’t feature. Newell’s looks improved this season and they’ve been quite strong at home, so at these odds I think they are a good bet against a Lanus that will have some missings.