ARGENTINA SUPERLIGA
Lanús 1
Newell’s Old Boys 1
🏟️ La Fortaleza, Buenos Aires
With fellow relegation battlers Patronato and Aldosivi both sealing three points in their respective matches before Newell’s took to the field against Lanús in Buenos Aires, a defeat at La Fortaleza would have worrying consequences for our standing in the Promedios.
Truth be told, it never really looked like Newell’s would walk away with nothing once the game kicked-off and although the first half lacked any major talking points, Frank Kudelka’s side kept the ball well and were confident in possession.
The Newell’s boss made three changes coming into the game, two of them forced and one tactical, and it was the three players that came in that ultimately shone brightest throughout the game. The returning Pablo Pérez was everywhere. He relished a box-to-box role which allowed him to defend and attack in equal measure and it was his parried shot which allowed another new face, the tricky Sebastian Palacios, to open the scoring on 58 minutes. On the right-side of a four-man defence, academy graduate Facundo Nadalín injected energy and bite into the side, although it must be said that Angelo Gabrielli, who has made that position his own this season, will be missed as an attacking threat while he recovers from a hamstring tear.
This Newell’s side has been prone to concentration lapses after scoring and the passage of play which led to Lanús squaring things up only minutes after Newell’s had scored was reminiscent of September’s draw in the Clásico Rosarino. On that occasion, Cristian Lema had opened the scoring for Newell’s only for him to be picking the ball out of the net just two minutes later when Riaño equalised straight from the restart. It was déjà vu at La Fortaleza when a poorly timed challenge in the box on the menacing Lautaro Acosta by Lema, just 3 minutes after Sebastian ‘Tucu’ Palacios had put La Lepra in front on his first start for the club, let Lanús back into the game. Referee Dario Herrera pointed to the spot and Jose Sand tucked away his 8th goal of the season.
Kudelka quickly emptied the bench but the appearance of Alexis Rodriguez or Lucas Albertengo did little to advance the cause. Lanús’ Orsini came closest to a late winner, rattling a shot off on 92 minutes that was marginally over Aguerre’s crossbar.
Newell’s can be proud of the point they gained against a Lanús side who were once mooted as title challengers this year. Next Saturday’s home game against Colón takes on something of a winner-takes-all cup final narrative with the Santa Fe club occupying a relegation spot, just two places below Newell’s. They’ll be desperate to save themselves from dropping to the Primera B while Newell’s know that three points in that game will all but guarantee safety for La Lepra.
Player Ratings
via Sofascore
