Argentinos Juniors — Newells Old Boys : Match Preview and Prediction for October 18,2025

Argentinos Juniors’ Recent Form & Offensive Struggles

Argentinos Juniors head into this match grappling with clear-cut issues in their attacking efficiency. Their last two league outings vividly underscore this problem. First, they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Defensa y Justicia, followed by a goalless 0-0 draw at home against Central Cordoba. The statistics from these encounters paint a stark and undeniable picture of their difficulties.

Deep Dive into Attacking Inefficiency

In the clash against Defensa y Justicia, Juniors dominated possession with 65% of the ball and attempted 15 shots, yet only a single one found the target. Such an abysmal conversion rate – just one shot on goal in 90 minutes despite their significant advantage – clearly highlights the glaring deficiencies in their offensive department. The scenario largely recurred against Central Cordoba: 21 shots yielded only 4 on target, culminating in another scoreless draw. Although the team frequently controls possession, ranking first in the league with an average of 63%, they consistently fail to translate this dominance into actual goals.

Goalkeeping Concerns and Defensive Impact

A critical factor impacting the squad is the injury to first-choice goalkeeper and captain Diego Rodriguez. To address this, legendary keeper Sergio Romero was promptly signed as an emergency replacement. However, a significant concern arises from his lack of match fitness: his last official game was nearly a year ago, in November 2024. This extended period without competitive play for the new shot-stopper will undoubtedly compel the defense to adopt an exceptionally cautious approach, which will, in turn, inevitably diminish the overall attacking prowess of the entire team.

Newell’s Old Boys’ Deep Crisis

Newell’s Old Boys are currently mired in an exceptionally deep playing crisis. The team has managed to secure only a single victory in their last nine fixtures, and their recent humiliating 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Boca Juniors has only exacerbated their precarious situation. Following such a devastating defeat, the squad failed to regain composure, managing merely a 1-1 home draw against Tigre in the subsequent league round.

Blunt Attack and Tactical Caution

Newell’s attacking unit appears utterly toothless. In their match against Tigre, the team generated only 1.10 xG (expected goals), an exceptionally low figure for a home game. Head coach Cristian Fabbiani is on the brink of dismissal, and in such a critical predicament, his primary objective will be to avoid another defeat. This strongly suggests that the team will most likely adopt an ultra-defensive and highly cautious tactical approach.

Seasonal Statistics Confirm Attacking Deficiencies

Seasonal statistics further corroborate their offensive struggles. Newell’s occupies the grim position of last, 30th, in the league for counter-attacks. This metric points to a complete absence of sharpness and pace when transitioning from defense to offense. Their attacks are predictable and easily neutralized by opponents, which bodes poorly for a match against a team that thrives on controlling possession.