Prediction: Estudiantes VS Newells Old Boys 2026-02-25
Estudiantes vs. Newell’s Old Boys: A Tale of Two Rebuilds (With Fewer Legs Than Usual)
Ladies, gentlemen, and sentient parrots with a passion for fútbol, we present a clash of Argentine footballing titans: Estudiantes de La Plata vs. Newell’s Old Boys. This isn’t just a game—it’s a family feud, a coaching carousel, and a test of whether a team can win while playing with one hand behind its back (metaphorically, unless Gabriel Neves’ hamstring injury counts). Let’s break it down with the precision of a VAR official and the humor of a La Plata stand-up comedian.
Parsing the Odds: Who’s the Bookies’ Favorite?
The odds tell a story of cautious optimism for Estudiantes and existential dread for Newell’s. For Estudiantes (-225, per American odds), the implied probability of a win is 81.8% (wait, what? No, sorry—using decimal equivalents, their ~2.4 odds translate to 41.6%). Newell’s (+325) checks in at 24.1%, while the draw hovers around 34.5%. To put this in perspective, Estudiantes’ chances of winning are roughly the same as a La Plata barista correctly guessing your coffee order blindfolded. Newell’s? About the same as that barista guessing your order, then accidentally setting it on fire.
The total goals market is split: “Under 1.5” sits at ~40% implied odds (decimal 2.5), while “Over 1.5” is ~57.5% (decimal 1.74). Translation: Expect a game tighter than a rosca de viento (a traditional Argentine dessert, but also a metaphor for a team’s defense when they’re short on players).
Team News: Injuries, Interim Coaches, and the Eternal Struggle of Newell’s
Estudiantes, under new coach Alexander Medina, is a team in transition but still oozing consistency. Their 12-match unbeaten streak is a testament to resilience, though injuries have forced creative substitutions. Key players like José Sosa and Guido Carrillo are sidelined, but Medina has a Swiss Army knife in Mikel Amondarain and returning stars Tiago Palacios and Lucas Alario. Brian Aguirre’s starting debut adds intrigue—will he be a fresh face or a fresh disaster? Only time (and possibly a La Redonda 100.3 broadcast) will tell.
Newell’s Old Boys, meanwhile, are the footballing equivalent of a deflated piñata. Seven straight losses, an interim coach (Lucas Bernardi) waiting for Frank DarĂo Kudelka to arrive like a rescue helicopter, and a fanbase that recently protested with signs reading “¿DĂłnde está nuestro orgullo?” (“Where’s our pride?”). Their 12 goals conceded in six matches? That’s more goals than most teams score in a season. Their last win? November 2025—a time when “2025” wasn’t a dystopian movie.
Humorous Spin: Football, Family Feuds, and Why Newell’s Should Bring a Towel
Let’s be real: This is a Clásico del Alberdi—a rivalry so fierce, it’s rumored the players’ grandparents still argue about who had better empanadas in 1926. Estudiantes’ defense is tighter than a fan’s grip on a La Plata street vendor’s change. Newell’s? They’d let a stray chanchito frito score if it rolled toward their net fast enough.
Medina’s tactical tweaks? Think of him as a footballing Picasso, painting with a brush made of “What if we try Palacios in attack?” and “Gaich, don’t miss this shot… please.” Newell’s, on the other hand, is like a Picasso interpreted by a sleep-deprived intern—chaotic, confusing, and ending with someone getting a red card for tripping over their own ambition.
Prediction: Will Estudiantes Kick Off Medina’s Era with a Win?
Yes. And here’s why:
1. Consistency vs. Collapse: Estudiantes’ unbeaten streak isn’t a fluke—it’s a fortress. Newell’s seven losses? A flukier fluke.
2. Injury Depth: Estudiantes’ bench has enough quality to start a second team. Newell’s bench? A group of fans wearing jerseys and pretending to be players.
3. The Spread: Estudiantes is -0.25, meaning a win or draw gives value. With their defense and Newell’s attacking futility, a 1-0 or 2-1 victory feels inevitable.
Final Score Prediction: Estudiantes 2, Newell’s Old Boys 1.
Why? Because Medina’s magic wand (aka the tactical board) will outshine Bernardi’s “hope and prayer” approach. And if Newell’s scores first? Well, football’s a funny game—until it’s not. But let’s not jinx it.
Bet Smart, Bet Humorously: Go with Estudiantes (-0.25) or the Under 1.5 goals. If you back Newell’s, at least bet on the draw—statistically, it’s more likely than their chances of a win.
¡Vamos, Estudiantes! And Newell’s? Bring a towel. And maybe a therapist.
Created: Feb. 25, 2026, 1:59 p.m. GMT