The Argentine Primera Division clash between Newell's Old Boys and Instituto is set to take place on Thursday at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa. With Newell's aiming to maintain their perfect home record and Instituto looking to climb the standings, this matchup promises excitement and intensity.
Here, we provide a detailed prediction, team news, and form analysis to preview this thrilling encounter.
Team Form and Recent Performance
Newell's Old Boys
Newell's Old Boys have shown two contrasting faces in the second phase of the Argentine Primera Division.
Their home performances have been solid, winning both matches without conceding a goal.
However, their away form has been poor, losing both games and failing to score. Currently sitting 13th in the overall table, they are just a point away from a Copa Sudamericana spot.
Newell's last five goals in this competition were all scored after the 80th minute, highlighting their ability to finish strongly.
Instituto
Instituto's recent form has been mixed. They ended a two-match winless streak with a late goal to secure a 2-1 victory over Gimnasia.
With 24 points in the overall standings, Instituto are positioned in 16th place. They have performed well when scoring multiple goals, earning points in eight out of nine such matches this year.
However, their away form has dipped, losing four of their last five matches, including a 1-0 defeat to Huracan.
Team News
Newell's Old Boys
Newell's will likely be without Gustavo Velazquez, who is on international duty with Paraguay.
Tomas Jacob and Armando Mendez were recently introduced into the starting lineup, replacing Velazquez and Augusto Schott, respectively.
Instituto
Instituto are expected to miss Roberto Bochi, Matias Romero, and Fernando Alarcon due to knee injuries.
However, Ignacio Russo is eligible to return from suspension. In their last match, goals from Santiago Rodriguez and Gregorio Rodriguez secured a comeback win over Gimnasia.
Predicted Lineups
Newell's Old Boys:
Instituto:
Prediction
Considering Newell's strong home form and defensive solidity at Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, they are likely to secure a comfortable victory.
Instituto's struggles on the road further tip the scales in favour of Newell's.
We predict a 2-0 win for Newell's Old Boys.
Newell's OB 
Instituto ACC 
