- Team form: Nueva Chicago are 19th in Primera Nacional 2026 with 21 points from 16 games.
- Standings: Atletico de Rafaela are 9th on 26 points from 17 and are pushing for a playoff position.
- Head-to-head: Atletico de Rafaela have never won away at Nueva Chicago.
Chicago can make home advantage count against Rafaela
Chicago
Nueva Chicago will be fresh after a week off and with German Lanaro at the helm since late May 2026, the home side could do with some new ideas to improve a disappointing season. The Torito are 19th in Primera Nacional 2026 and lack consistency in their results, although their recent run of 1 win, 1 draw and three defeats in their last five is slightly better than earlier in the campaign.
The home team will attack with their 4-3-3 system, which suits their fastest players who can run at teams, while their front three will have to break the lines when they have the ball.
Rafaela
Atletico de Rafaela are a more experienced side in their second season back in the second tier of Argentine soccer after being promoted in 2024. Ivan Juarez has done an excellent job at the club since taking over in August of that year as he has implemented a pragmatic, defensive setup that has stabilised the club. Rafaela will defend with numbers, be disciplined in their defensive shape and look to counter-attack with their wingers and experienced forwards at the pointy end of their build-up play.
- Chicago: Sebastian Cocimano is their main outlet up front with five goals in 15 Primera Nacional games.
- Rafaela: Martiniano Moreno is their most prolific marksman with six goals in 16 league appearances and provides the sort of consistent threat Rafaela needs to push for promotion.
Tight game likely as Rafaela are hard to beat
Rafaela are in marginally better form with two wins, one draw and two defeats in their last five, although their road form remains poor with no win and one draw in their last three. However, they recently held Patronato de Parana to a 0-0 tie on the road before edging lowly Colegiales 1-0 at home.
The bookmakers are expecting a low-scoring affair, with under 2.5 goals listed at 1.3 and there is some logic to that given Chicago have scored just nine goals in eight home matches while Rafaela have conceded the same total in as many away.
The only reason to side with the over here is Rafaela's failure to win. They lost 5-1 here last season and there is enough of a mindset to back them to get a positive result again.
However, Chicago's home form has been inconsistent with two wins, five draws and only one defeat from eight and Rafaela's away record is similarly difficult to trust. Therefore, a tight, cagey draw seems likely and Rafaela's style will enable them to stay in the game long enough to pounce on the counter.
