Torneo Inicial Preview: Colón de Santa Fe v Newells Old BoysThese two sides have both featured in our 'big match' columns already this season after enjoying strong starts and living up to our pre-season billing of being dark horses.
Colón haven't won in three, but are back at home in the Elephant's Graveyard - so-called because of their propensity for beating even the biggest clubs in front of their own fans - and have a key player back from suspension in the shape of Sebastian Prediger. The return of young striker Facundo Curuchet gives Nestor Sensini a dilemma of the good kind with Emmanuel Gigliotti most likely to make way from the forward pairing after Tito Ramirez made it two goals in three games last time out.
Providing the creativity will be young midfielder Lucas Mugni, who made his Argentina debut in the Superclásico de las Americas tie against Brazil on Wednesday night. He tends to operate from the left rather than on the left, and his future looks to be behind the forwards as a central enganche. Until then, he will continue to work hard, and is the first of a generation of modern, more-rounded playmakers coming through in Argentina that replicate the sort of talents shown by Brazilian Oscar before his departure from Internacional for the Premier League. His incredible goal from last weekend showcased his talents, winning the ball back on halfway before driving at the defence, skipping between two defenders and rifling into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Newell's find themselves second and just one point off the top. Their improvement last season under new boss Gerardo Martino was phenomenal, and the man who learnt his trade from club legend Marcelo Bielsa has certainly taken some of the great man's tools and worked them brilliantly with the current Lepra squad.
The additions of Gabriel Heinze and Maxi Rodriguez in the off-season were all about adding experience to the side as well as a bit more class, and Rodriguez has been an instant success. It was August's other main signing that has shone though, with former AEK Athens man Ignacio Scocco dazzling as a false '9' and leading the league's goalscoring charts with five in five games.
Match oddsLast time out, Newell's edged past San Lorenzo with a Scocco penalty, but they should have been out of sight before the 82nd minute spot kick that saw them home - in a result which saw our tip for last week win at
4.7. Nevertheless it keeps their momentum going, something which cannot be said for Colón, who have had a slight dip in their last three fixtures.
Colón were unlucky not to win two of those, being denied wins by late equalisers at Tigre as well as against River Plate - but that is their problem at the moment while Newell's keep grinding out the results at home and accepting a draw on the road.
This is a provincial derby, with Rosario side Newell's
3.2 making the shortish trip to the state capital, Santa Fe, and therefore the atmosphere will be electric. With a large away following in attendance Newell's will be boosted, but the pattern of their games would suggest a draw here, while Colón
2.44 are definitely too short for consideration. Laying the hosts perhaps the best course of action with them available to oppose at around
2.5.
GoalsNewell's Old Boys' strength has laid in their ability to keep clean sheets, only conceding in one of their seven games this season. The match that cost them a perfect record was the 3-3 with River, when they were simply overwhelmed by the Millionarios' attacking trident and an early Victor Lopez booking left him impotent in the tackle for much of the game.
Following successive 1-0 wins at the start of the season, Colón have complied with a 'Both teams to Score' bet in their last seven in all competitions, and it is their defence that seems to be the weak link. With their attacking options replenished by the returns of Ramirez, and now Curuchet, they will be confident of scoring against this notoriously tight visiting defence, but the market is leaning against it, with
2.12 the price for BTTS and
1.81 for it not to occur.
Other betsCorrect scores usually provide some interest, and with all four of Newell's victories this season coming to nil, a 1-0 win for the Rosario side is priced nicely at
8.2.
If BTTS has tempted you, then it doesn't necessarily mean that the tight defences will go entirely out of the window, so a 1-1 draw offers some interest at
6.2 as an alternative to the
2.12 stated above.
Most tempting though, is Newell's at
2.13 on the fixed odds Draw No Bet market. Their miserly backline will be tested no doubt, but their fluid front three is so dangerous that it seems unlikely they will fail to find the net, and they should be looking at no less than a point from their trip to Santa Fe.
Recommended BetsNewell's DNB at 2.13 or lay Colón at 2.60 (best bet)
0-1 Newell's Correct Score at 8.20(Source:
Betfair)
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