Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Copa Argentina match.
Defensa y Justicia missed out on a place in the Argentine Primera División play-offs. The national cup now presents an opportunity to progress further, with a quarter-final berth at stake. Newell's Old Boys are in a comparable position.
Defensa y Justicia
Defensa y Justicia finished 10th in Zone A, just two points shy of the top eight, and only one goal behind Newell's Old Boys. Both teams reached their final positions via very different routes. Defensa y Justicia spent nine rounds in the top eight during the Apertura, but a run of seven matches without a win—including five defeats—caused them to slip out of the play-off race.
Newell's Old Boys
Newell's Old Boys started poorly in the league, sitting no higher than 13th out of 16 for much of the campaign. They lost six of their first seven matches, but managed to reverse their fortunes. An eight-match unbeaten run—consisting of four wins and four draws—brought them back into contention. Only a final-round defeat to Racing Club de Avellaneda (0:1), who went on to finish third, denied them a stronger finish.
Defensa y Justicia vs Newell's Old Boys Prediction
While this match takes place in the cup, league form often carries over when team selections remain consistent. With neither side distracted by a title chase in the Apertura, both are expected to name strong starting elevens. At this point, Newell's Old Boys appear to be in better condition, so we’re backing them with a zero handicap.
