Preview: Newell’s Old Boys vs. Union
Union will be bidding to make it four straight victories in the Argentine Primera Division when they make the trip to Newell’s Old Boys on Monday evening.
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.
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:
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Newell’s Old Boys form (all competitions):
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Union Argentine Primera Division form:
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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.