- Standings: Nueva Chicago (25th, 18pts, 14 games) and Chacarita Juniors (26th, 18pts, 16 games) are separated by just one point in the Primera Nacional 2026 standings.
- Home/Away form: Chicago have won just one of their seven home matches in this league (W1, D5, L1), while Chacarita Juniors are yet to win on the road (D2, L5).
- Prediction: A draw seems the most likely outcome for this weekend's Buenos Aires derby, with both sides likely to cancel each other out.
Local bragging rights on the line
Match context
Saturday's Buenos Aires rivalry match sees a battle for the lower reaches of the Primera Nacional 2026 when Nueva Chicago take on Chacarita Juniors in a clash of two sides who will be battling against the drop in the coming months.
Chicago's situation
German Lanaro took charge at Chicago in May 2026 and has had to deal with a few rough waters as the club have failed to build any momentum after a poor run prior to his arrival. Los Albos have won none of their last five (D2, L3) and go into this weekend's clash after a disappointing 1-2 home defeat to Almagro, a 0-1 away loss to Deportivo Maipu and a 1-1 home draw against Temperley.
Chacarita's response
Chacarita Juniors arrive in the midst of a poor form run which has seen them win two and lose three of their last five, although they will be encouraged by a recent 1-0 home win over Almagro after back-to-back defeats to Deportivo Maipu (3-2, AW) and Temperley (0-1, H). The visitors look in much better shape under the guidance of Cristian Emilio Grabinski, who took over at the start of April 2026 and has instilled a pragmatic game plan in his team. Chacarita Juniors set up in a compact 4-4-2 formation, playing at a slower tempo and counter-attacking with directness when possible.
Chicago’s width versus Chacarita’s block
Nueva Chicago's preferred 4-3-3 system is the polar opposite in that they like to play wide, press forward and move the ball quickly from the wings. The contrasting styles could lead to a cagey and tense affair when the teams meet at the weekend, and while Chacarita Juniors' defense is more solid, Nueva Chicago will feel confident of grabbing the spoils on home turf.
The draw seems the most probable result, and the odds for under 2.5 goals (1.29) and Both Teams to Score – No (1.51) are too short in the circumstances. We're going for a draw at a decent odds of 2.63.
- Sebastián Cocimano is the main goal threat for the hosts with five goals in 13 Primera Nacional 2026 appearances, but Chacarita Juniors' Maximiliano Melendez has been in fine form recently with four goals in 16 league games and three in his last five.
- Nueva Chicago have only conceded six goals in seven home league matches (0.86 per-game on average), and as Chacarita Juniors have only scored four goals in their seven road fixtures, this will undoubtedly be a low-scoring affair with at least one side keeping a shutout.
