Velez Sarsfield carry a 13-point edge into Rosario

Newells Old Boys host Velez Sarsfield today at 20:00 UTC at Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, with Velez unbeaten through eight Clausura matches. The visitors’ 16 points put them second in Group A, while Newells sit seventh on 12, making this a direct test of the gap between the two sides.

What's at stake

Velez are 13 points ahead of Newells in the wider table context, and trail league leaders Estudiantes L.P. by only three points with 28. Newells have 15 points from 16 Apertura games and are 16 points behind Estudiantes, but a home win today would reduce the immediate Clausura deficit from four points; a defeat would leave Velez further clear at the top end of Group A.

The numbers

Newells’ overall season record shows 24 goals scored and 34 conceded across 24 matches, while their home record is more balanced at 4 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses, with 13 goals for and 13 against. Velez have scored 29 and conceded 19 in 25 overall matches, and their away record includes 4 wins, 7 draws and 1 loss, with 16 goals scored and 11 conceded.

Recent form also separates the teams. Newells’ 24-result sequence contains seven wins, while Velez’s 25-result list includes 11 wins and only three losses; the latest five results for Newells are win, draw, draw, win, draw, compared with Velez’s win, win, draw, win, draw.

One to watch

M. Lanzini is the only named player in the scorer chart for these squads, with 6 goals in 25 appearances for Velez. His contribution stands out in a Velez attack that has produced 16 goals away from home this season, a figure Newells’ defence will have to contain at Estadio Marcelo Bielsa.

Why it matters

For Newells, today is an opportunity to turn a 12-point Clausura start into a stronger push up Group A and improve on a season goal difference of -10 overall. For Velez, preserving their unbeaten Clausura record would maintain second place on 16 points and keep the three-point distance to Estudiantes L.P. within reach.