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Newell’s Old Boys welcome Boca Juniors to Rosario on Sunday 2 August for a 21:00 kick-off in what promises to be a fiercely contested Primera División clash. Here’s our Bet Builder pick for Newells Old Boys v Boca Juniors, which has been placed with Bet365:
Leo Román - 3+ Saves
Goalkeeper Saves
Deportivo La Coruna’s goalkeeper Leo Román is likely to see plenty of action in this fixture. Malaga’s previous game showed they can create chances but struggle to convert them, with five shots but only one on target. This suggests Román will face a steady flow of shots on goal. His performance last time, where he made 5 saves, indicates he can comfortably reach the 3+ saves mark, making this a considered inclusion given the expected pressure on him.
Both Teams To Score
Both Teams To Score
Both Malaga and Deportivo La Coruna have shown attacking capabilities that make a Both Teams To Score outcome plausible. Malaga have scored in six of their last seven matches, demonstrating their ability to find the net at home despite a goalless opener. Deportivo’s resilience away and defensive gaps on both sides point towards a game where both teams could breach each other’s defenses. This market fits naturally with the overall game narrative of a close but open contest.
Deportivo La Coruna - Asian Handicap +0.5
Asian Handicap
The Asian Handicap +0.5 on Deportivo La Coruna reflects the balanced nature of this match between two recently promoted sides. Past encounters, including a recent 1-1 draw, underline Deportivo’s ability to avoid defeat on the road. Given the attacking threats and defensive vulnerabilities on both sides, a close game is expected. This handicap offers a buffer by covering a draw or win, aligning well with the anticipated tight scoreline and complementing the other selections in the bet builder.
Both sides enter this fixture determined to rebuild momentum following frustrating league outings. Newell’s slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Independiente last time out, while Boca Juniors suffered a damaging 3-0 setback against Deportivo Riestra despite holding vast territorial dominance. With the visitors seeking to climb away from the lower reaches of the table and the host side keen to defend home turf, fine lines and tactical adjustments will dictate this contest.
Newells Old Boys v Boca Juniors Bet Builder Tip
Miguel Merentiel – 1+ Shots on Target
Boca Juniors rely heavily on the sharp movement and relentless goal-hunting of Miguel Merentiel, making the 30-year-old forward the defining focal point of their attacking unit. Operating inside a fluid forward line, the Uruguayan striker constantly penetrates central zones and tests opposing goalkeepers with sharp, direct shooting. Across 1,003 minutes of league action this campaign, Merentiel has racked up 31 total attempts, generating an expected goals figure of 5.56 and an expected goals on target figure of 4.48. Crucially for this selection, 13 of those 31 attempts have hit the target, representing an impressive 42% shot-on-target accuracy. His appetite for finding space inside dangerous areas is underscored by 64 touches inside the opposition penalty box, ensuring he rarely spends long periods isolated from the action.
Merentiel’s recent performance trajectory underlines his reliability in testing the goalkeeper. He has recorded at least one shot on target in three of his last five appearances, highlighted by a standout display against O’Higgins where his lone attempt found the back of the net to earn an 8.0 match rating, as well as a lethal finish against Cruzeiro in a 1-1 draw. Even when Boca struggle for overall fluid rhythm, Merentiel maintains high conversion efficiency on limited service, utilizing both feet effectively with a shot profile comprising 17 right-foot and 10 left-foot efforts alongside fast-break threat.
From a structural perspective, Boca Juniors control the majority of ball possession, averaging 58.4% of the ball per match, and fire off 11.4 total shots per game, with 4.5 of those efforts testing the opposition goalkeeper. This territorial weight constantly forces opponents onto the back foot. Newell’s Old Boys, meanwhile, surrender an average of 10.4 attempts per match and allow 4.5 shots on goal to opposing teams, conceding 1.2 goals per game. With Newell’s dropping into deeper blocks to absorb pressure, Boca will predictably dominate the ball in the final third, creating multiple shooting lanes for their primary striker. Given Merentiel’s knack for working space quickly and unleashing accurately, he edges into prime position to land at least one shot on target in Rosario.
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Walter Núñez – 1+ Shots
Newell’s Old Boys rely on the directness and flair of 23-year-old winger Walter Núñez to drive them forward on counter-attacking transitions. Accumulating 870 minutes across 17 appearances this season, the dynamic attacker is never shy about pulling the trigger when space opens up ahead of him. Núñez has accumulated 16 total shots during the campaign, averaging comfortably over 1.5 shots per 90 minutes. His ability to unbalance defenders is reflected in his 21 successful dribbles and 443 total touches, including 27 touches inside the opposition penalty area.
Whether cutting inside from wide areas or attacking space directly, Núñez displays an aggressive mindset, taking 9 shots from outside the box and 8 from inside the penalty box. Newell’s average 7.8 attempts per match as a collective unit, and Núñez regularly accounts for a significant portion of that shooting volume. Opposing defences struggle to contain his direct running, leading to him winning 14 fouls in dangerous areas. Facing a Boca Juniors team that surrenders 7.0 attempts per match despite dominating possession, Núñez will find ample transition opportunities to unleash at least one shot.
Total Corners – Under 10.0 Corners
Set-piece patterns in this fixture lean toward a controlled, low-volume corner count rather than a chaotic wide-open battle. Newell’s Old Boys average 3.8 corners taken per match across their past 10 league outings, while conceding 6.2 corners to their opponents. On the other side, Boca Juniors average 4.5 corners earned per game while allowing a tight 3.5 corners against. When these structural dynamics intersect, the combined average settles well within manageable limits beneath the double-digit mark.
Newell’s defensive strategy revolves around maintaining a disciplined, mid-to-low block with 44.7% possession, actively funneling opposition attacks into congested central channels rather than wide crossing zones. Similarly, Boca Juniors prefer slow, deliberate build-up play through central midfield hubs featuring Leandro Paredes and Santiago Ascacibar, keeping total match tempo measured. Because neither team relies heavily on high-frequency, wide-line crossing or continuous deflection-heavy wing play, corner production should remain restricted, making Under 10.0 total corners the cleaner tactical pick.
Both Teams To Score – Yes
Both teams possess clear offensive firepower balanced by underlying defensive vulnerabilities, creating ideal conditions for goals at both ends of the pitch. Boca Juniors score an average of 1.5 goals per match over their last 10 league games, but they also surrender 1.0 goal per game defensively. Their high-pressing system and willingness to commit bodies forward leaves spaces open on the turnover, as demonstrated when conceding three goals against Deportivo Riestra and three against Huracán.
Newell’s Old Boys maintain an average of 1.1 goals scored per match while conceding 1.2 goals per game, proving capable of capitalising on counter-attacks through top goalscorer Ignacio Ramírez, alongside supporting attackers like Matías Cóccaro and Jerónimo Russo. Meanwhile, Boca boasts significant forward threat in Milton Giménez, Adam Bareiro, and Miguel Merentiel. Given that Newell’s allow 10.4 attempts per game and Boca concede 7.0, defensive frailties on both sides mean a clean sheet for either goalkeeper looks improbable.
Lautaro Blanco – Anytime Assist
Boca Juniors’ offensive scheme leans heavily on the overlapping runs and elite crossing capacity of 27-year-old left-back Lautaro Blanco. Across 1,300 minutes of play this season, Blanco has established himself as one of the league’s most productive wide creators, accumulating an impressive expected assists (xA) total of 2.91. His continuous involvement high up the pitch is evidenced by 1,093 total touches, 21 chances created, and 3 big chances created for his teammates.
Blanco is a persistent threat from both open play and set-piece situations, having delivered 29 successful crosses and 41 accurate long balls during the campaign. He registered a precise assist in Boca’s 2-0 victory against Sarmiento and set up another goal against Huracán. Given that Newell’s concede 6.2 corners per game and frequently allow wide space when defending deep, Blanco’s precise left-footed delivery into physical targets like Merentiel and Giménez provides a primary route to goal, making him a prime candidate to supply a decisive pass.
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