Sofia Quijada
Boca Juniors travel to the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa in Rosario already sitting bottom of the Clausura table after a 3-0 hammering by Deportivo Riestra, making this a must-respond fixture for Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s side. Newells, coached by Frank Kudelka, are unbeaten in the Clausura so far with one win and one draw, and the home crowd in Rosario will make this a hostile environment for Boca. Keep an eye on Leandro Paredes for Boca, who brings composure and creativity in midfield despite limited minutes so far, and on Newells forward Matías Cóccaro, the only player in the home squad to register a goal across the last five matches.
Hot stat: Boca Juniors have conceded 4 goals across their last two competitive matches without scoring once, a stark contrast to their 4-0 aggregate across the three matches before that run.
| 🏆 Tournament: | Argentine Primera Division 2026, Clausura |
| 🏟 Venue: | Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, Rosario |
| 🗓️ Date: | 02.08.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 22:00 CEST |
Newells Old Boys vs Boca Juniors Prediction
Boca are the bookmakers’ favourite at roughly 46% implied probability, and the odds around 2.05-2.10 reflect that. We think the value here sits with Boca winning, but the margin is tight. Boca’s recent domestic form has been poor, yet their squad depth and world ranking gap are significant. Newells have scored just once in their last five matches across all competitions and their pass accuracy of 568 completed passes from 741 attempts is modest, suggesting they will struggle to build sustained pressure.
Newells average only 2.6 shots per match across the last five games, while Boca register 12 per match. That volume advantage matters in close games. Newells commit fewer fouls on average (4.2 per game vs Boca’s 8 per game), which means Boca will generate more set-piece opportunities from free kicks. With 57 free kicks earned in five matches, Boca consistently put opponents under dead-ball pressure. Newells’ low corner count (10 over five games) versus Boca’s 22 further underlines the territorial imbalance we expect. We predict Boca to win, with the match staying low-scoring given Newells’ limited attacking output.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Boca Juniors to win to nil |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Under 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | No |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 7.5 |
Team Analysis
Newells Old Boys enter the Clausura with a mixed but cautiously positive record. They beat Talleres Córdoba 1-0 in their Clausura opener and drew with a mid-table side in their second game, giving them 3 points from 2 played. Over the last 30 days, they are 1W-1L, with the loss coming against Independiente (0-1) most recently. Looking back five matches, the pattern is clear: Newells grind out narrow results, scoring exactly one goal in four of those five fixtures. Their defensive structure holds reasonably well, but going forward, the team relies heavily on individual moments rather than sustained combination play. Cóccaro is the focal point up front, and when he does not find space, Newells tend to stall.
Boca Juniors’ recent form is harder to read. They beat Sarmiento Junín 2-0 and Athletico PR 1-0, then beat O’Higgins 1-0 in a Copa tie, all within a productive stretch. Then came two consecutive losses: 0-1 to O’Higgins in the return leg and 0-3 to Deportivo Riestra in the Clausura. That Riestra result is alarming, but Boca have the personnel to bounce back. Over five matches, they recorded 60 total shots and 38 interceptions, showing both attacking intent and defensive awareness. Alan Velasco and Miguel Merentiel each have a goal in this run and both carry a consistent threat. The concern is concentration at the back, where four goals conceded in two games suggests the defensive unit needs tightening.
Most Recent Head-to-Head Matches
| Statistic | Newells Old Boys | Boca Juniors |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 2 | 8 |
🚨Check out our dedicated Newells Old Boys vs Boca Juniors stats page for more info.
The head-to-head record tells a clear story: Boca have scored 8 goals to Newells’ 2 across the last four meetings. Boca won three of those four encounters, including a 5-0 thrashing in 2025 and a 2-0 win in the Apertura phase of this same 2026 season. The only Newells win came in March 2025 (2-0), when the bookmakers actually gave Boca the favourite tag at 30%. History firmly favours the visitors here.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Boca Juniors the favourite
- Moneyline Newells Old Boys 3.82 (avg) | Boca Juniors 2.08 (avg)
- Draw 3.07 (avg)
- Over/Under Over 2.5 N/A | Under 2.5 N/A
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes N/A | No N/A
The moneyline odds on Boca at around 2.05-2.10 are fair given the head-to-head dominance and Newells’ lack of firepower. Newells at 3.75-3.89 carries some appeal given home advantage, but the attacking numbers do not support a home win at those prices. The draw at 2.90-3.21 looks the least attractive option given both sides tend toward decisive results in this fixture. We back Boca, and the “win to nil” angle at presumably enhanced odds offers the best value given Newells’ single-goal output across five matches.
Newells Old Boys. Source: Official Facebook
Possible Starting Lineups
Newells Old Boys possible starting eleven
- GK: Josué Reinatti
- DF: Bruno Cabrera, Lautaro Gianetti, Martin Luciano, Franco Escobar
- MF: Luca Regiardo, Facundo Samuel Guch, David Sotelo
- FW: Jeronimo Russo, Matías Cóccaro, Walter Mazzantti
Kudelka has consistently deployed a 4-2-3-1 shape across recent matches. Reinatti starts in goal after logging 180 minutes and recording 8 saves. The back four picks itself based on playing time, with Cabrera and Gianetti the most active defenders. In midfield, Regiardo and Guch provide the double pivot, while Sotelo operates higher. Cóccaro leads the line as the only scorer in recent games and is the player Newells most need to fire. Russo and Mazzantti will look to support from wide positions, though both have been quiet in front of goal.
Boca Juniors possible starting eleven
- GK: Álvaro Montero
- DF: Jorge Nicolás Figal, Marco Pellegrino, Ayrton Enrique Costa, Lautaro Blanco
- MF: Santiago Ascacibar, Milton Delgado, Tomás Aranda
- FW: Alan Velasco, Miguel Merentiel, Sebastián Villa
Arruabarrena also lines up in a 4-2-3-1. Montero gets the nod in goal with 8 saves across his three appearances. Lautaro Blanco has played every minute at left back and also has an assist, making him an attacking outlet. In midfield, Ascacibar (6 shots, 5 interceptions, 161 passes) and Delgado (4 yellow cards, 10 interceptions, 1 assist) are the engine room. Aranda has 7 total shots from midfield, the highest in the squad, and adds a direct goal threat. Up front, Velasco and Merentiel both have goals and are the primary attacking weapons. Leandro Paredes, when fit, can rotate into the midfield three and elevate the quality of Boca’s build-up considerably.
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Boca Juniors. Source: Official Facebook
TipsGG Match Prediction
Boca Juniors need a reaction after the Riestra embarrassment, and this fixture, despite being away from home, sets up well for them historically. Newells have managed one goal in their last five matches across all competitions and their shot volume (averaging under 3 per game) is among the lowest in recent Argentine Primera data. Boca generate 12 shots per game and earn free kicks at double the rate of Newells, which means they will create enough chances to win this comfortably if their defensive concentration holds.
The head-to-head record, the squad quality gap, and Newells’ chronic attacking limitations all point the same way. We predict a Boca Juniors win, with the match finishing under 2.5 goals and Newells failing to score. The “Boca to win to nil” market is our primary recommendation, with under 2.5 total goals as a supporting bet.
