Newell’s Old Boys v Patronato
Copa de la Liga 2021
17th April 2021
🏟️ Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, Rosario
Five days on from Newell’s Old Boys’ first win of the year against Lanús, Germán Burgos has called Saturday’s match against Patronato “another final” for Newell’s.
A consecutive victory would be a huge morale boost for La Lepra as a packed schedule approaches for Newell’s at the end of April running into May.
The Copa Sudamericana kicks-off with a trip to Atlético Goianiense on 20 April and Newell’s will then play a further 4 games in the following two weeks, including the Clásico Rosarino against rivals Rosario Central.
In the background, presidential elections are also taking place so it’s a hectic few weeks for everyone at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa.
Like Newell’s, Santa Fe neighbours Patronato have struggled in the 2021 Copa de la Liga but the month of April has been a turning point for them, and they are now unbeaten in three games after breaking a 7-game losing streak by beating Aldosivi on 2 April.
Since then, they’ve knocked Lanús out of the Copa Argentina and last weekend upset the odds by thrashing Gimnasia 4-1.
Burgos is aware of their good form and in his press conference on Thursday he called the game “another tough challenge”.
Despite winning twice in the Copa de la Liga in April, Patronato’s only points in Group B came as a result of those wins so they are rock bottom of the table. Newell’s had drawn four times before the Lanús win so just one point separates the two sides in the group, with newly-promoted Sarmiento sitting in 12th between Newell’s in 11th and El Patrón in 13th.
History is on the side of Newell’s Old Boys; Patronato have never beaten them in the Primera División (2 wins for The Lepers and 2 draws). They did knock them out of the Copa Argentina in 2011 on penalties however.
Newell’s Old Boys v Patronato Team News
Patronato have been rocked by a number of positive COVID-19 cases as the virus begins to take hold in Argentina again. They have confirmed that 9 players have the virus and are out of Saturday’s game: Agustín Pastorelli, Neri Bandiera, Gabriel Gudiño, Lautaro Comas, Sergio Ojeda, Óliver Benítez, Dylan Gissi, Gustavo Canto and Nicolás Franco. Only Benítez and Gudiño started in the win against Gimnasia but they’ll undoubtedly have to call a number of young reinforcements into the squad for the Newell’s game.
So far, one Newell’s player has tested positive for COVID-19 and that is Manuel Capasso who is definitely out of the game. Since Burgos took over at Newell’s, Capasso has been a mainstay in his back 3 and it is rumoured that Diego Calcaterra, a young midfielder who can play in defence, will take his place.
Ramiro Macagno, Julián Fernández, Matías Orihuela, Braian Rivero, Mariano Bíttolo, Franco Escobar, Francisco González and Santiago Gentiletti are all on the long-term injury list. Fernando Belluschi has also been left out of the squad.
📺 Watch Newell’s Old Boys v Patronato on Saturday 17th April: Live on Fanatiz
⏰ Kick-off: 20.15 ARG | 00.15 UK
