21 Shots, No Goals: Estudiantes Held by Newells Old Boys

Estudiantes L.P. 0-0 Newells Old Boys: the Liga Profesional Argentina meeting ended in a draw at Estadio Ciudad de La Plata on Monday, August 31, with Estudiantes unable to turn overwhelming attacking numbers into a goal.

Estudiantes dominate without finding a finish

Playing in the Clausura - 7 round, both sides used a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alexander Medina coaching Estudiantes and Lucas Bernardi leading Newells. Estudiantes controlled most of the contest, holding 61% possession and completing 436 of 533 passes at an 82% accuracy rate. Newells had 39% possession, 334 total passes and 239 accurate passes.

The home side also led the attacking statistics by a wide margin. Estudiantes recorded 21 total shots to Newells’ nine, including nine on target, 14 efforts from inside the box and six corners. Newells managed only two shots on target and no corner kicks. The 0-0 scoreline therefore contrasted sharply with Estudiantes’ territorial and shooting advantage, while the expected-goals figures also favoured the hosts, 1.98 to 1.07.

Reinatti keeps Newells level

Newells goalkeeper Josué Reinatti was the standout performer, earning an 8.3 rating after making eight saves in 94 minutes. His contribution was central to preserving a clean sheet as Estudiantes repeatedly tested the visitors’ defence. Estudiantes goalkeeper figures were more limited, with two saves recorded, reflecting Newells’ difficulty in producing efforts on target.

Gabriel Neves also delivered a strong display for Estudiantes, receiving an 8.2 rating after producing four key passes, six tackles and one shot on target. Santiago Núñez added two shots on target and two tackles, but neither could break the deadlock. No player scored, and the match finished without a decisive attacking moment.

Changes fail to alter the score

Medina made two changes at half-time, replacing E. Mancuso with E. Meza and L. Piovi with Alexis Castro. Castro later recorded two key passes and four tackles in 49 minutes. Newells introduced M. E. Garcia and J. Gomez for T. Rios and F. Guch in the 73rd minute, while Estudiantes brought on E. Cetre and B. Aguirre one minute later for J. Burgos and J. Correa. The substitutions did not produce a breakthrough.

Discipline remained limited. Leandro González Pírez was booked for Estudiantes in the 55th minute, while L. Gomez received Newells’ only yellow card in the 88th. Estudiantes committed nine fouls to Newells’ 15, and both teams finished with one yellow card.

Table positions remain contrasting

The draw leaves Estudiantes listed 14th in Clausura Group A with six points from six games, a record of two wins and four defeats. Newells remain sixth with 10 points from six matches, having recorded three wins, one draw and two losses. The result adds another draw to a recent sequence that had included inconsistent results for both teams, but neither side could claim the three points despite the clear difference in attacking output.