- Home form: Defensa y Justicia are unbeaten in 2 home matches in Liga Profesional – Clausura 2026 (W1, D1).
- Away form: Newell's Old Boys have lost 1 of 1 away game (L1).
- Goals conceded: Defensa y Justicia have conceded 2 goals in 2 home games in Clausura 2026, while Newell's Old Boys have conceded 1 in 1 away.
Home advantage should tip the balance
Defensa y Justicia have been mediocre since Julio Vaccari returned to the club in November with an on-the-front-foot, positional playing style that involves heavy pressing and build-ups starting from the fullbacks.
They got the better of Deportivo Riestra 2-1 at home in the opening game of Liga Profesional – Clausura 2026, but were hit 3-0 away to Estudiantes de la Plata yesterday, so the momentum is not with them.
Their overall form is mixed with 1 win, 1 draw and 3 defeats in their last 5 matches, leaving them 12th in the table on 4 points from 3 Clausura games. Newell's Old Boys are 10th and also on 4 points from 3, so this will be a tight game.
Newell's have also been inconsistent with 1 win, 3 draws and 1 defeat in their last 5, although they did beat Talleres and held Boca to a 2-2 draw. Frank Kudelka has them organised, compact and dangerous on the counter-attack, so this will be an interesting contrast of styles with Defensa y Justicia wanting to drive the tempo, control territory and create overloads.
Newell’s could make life difficult
Newell's Old Boys have lost their only away game, so it's easy to see them making Defensa y Justicia work hard for any space on Sunday.
The hosts haven't won either of their previous 2 home games against Newell's Old Boys, who know they can make life awkward in this stadium.
But it will be a cagey affair because Newell's have the speed up front to create the odd breakthrough and have kept it tight at the back themselves.
Both Teams to Score – No at 1.73 is also appealing, but the smart money is on a home win because Defensa y Justicia will want it more.
- The odds also reflect this with Defensa y Justicia odds-on at 2.36, compared to 3.2 for the visitors and 2.96 for a draw.
- So the value lies with Defensa, who have a better set up at home.
- The best bet looks to be Under 2.5 goals at 1.53, which aligns with the narrow margin of victory we expect.
Spoils could be shared
Key scorers
Defensa y Justicia's leading goal-scorer in Clausura 2026 is David Barbona, with 2 in 3 games, while he has scored 2 of their last 5 team goals. Ignacio Ramirez has chipped in with 2 of Newell's last 5 and is their sharpest threat in the box.
Match outlook
Newell's Old Boys' top scorer in Clausura 2026 is Matias Coccaro, with 1 in 2, so a single goal from each side seems likely in a cagey matchup.
Defensa y Justicia won 3-2 away in Liga Profesional – Apertura 2026 and have 1 win and 1 draw in their two previous meetings, but with both teams in a rut and a narrow margin looking likely, we'll go for 1-0.
