Newell's Old Boys 2–0 Deportivo Riestra | Liga Profesional de Fútbol | 15 August 2026

Result Summary

Newell's Old Boys secured a composed and ultimately convincing 2–0 home victory over Deportivo Riestra at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa on Saturday night. Two second-half goals — from Facundo Samuel Guch in the 67th minute and Walter Uriel Mazzantti in the 85th — sealed three points for Frank Darío Kudelka's side and reinforced their credentials as a genuine force in the Liga Profesional this campaign.

Match Analysis

The first half was a measured, physical affair. Deportivo Riestra arrived with a clear intent to disrupt Newell's rhythm through pressure and set the tone early in the disciplinary sense, with Facundo Miño picking up a yellow card in the 18th minute for a foul, followed swiftly by Carlos Gustavo David Quintana in the 41st. Luca Regiardo responded for the hosts just a minute later, making it a feisty but goalless first 45.

Despite Newell's commanding 64% possession and a 77% successful passing percentage — compared to Riestra's 55% — the visitors were not without ambition. Riestra actually registered more total shots (11 to 9) and generated more dangerous attacks (46 to 38), suggesting Guillermo Duró's men were willing to concede the ball and operate on the counter. However, their lack of clinical quality ultimately undermined those efforts, with six shots off target betraying a bluntness in the final third.

The match's decisive moment arrived on the hour mark when Kudelka made a double substitution — introducing Mateo Ezequiel García and Francisco Scarpeccio in the 63rd and 64th minutes — and the tactical shift proved immediate in its impact. Just three minutes later, Facundo Samuel Guch broke the deadlock, finishing with his left foot from an assist provided by the freshly introduced Martín Ortega, who had come on at half-time. The goal rewarded Newell's sustained territorial control and gave them the foothold they needed.

Riestra responded with a flurry of substitutions between the 70th and 76th minutes — Tomás González, Gabriel Nicolás Benegas, Nicólas Ezequiel Watson, and Mariano Gastón Bracamonte all entering — but they could not unlock a disciplined Newell's defensive structure. The game was put beyond doubt in the 85th minute when Walter Uriel Mazzantti finished emphatically with his right foot, with Facundo Guch turning provider this time to complete a neat role reversal. Both shots on target for Newell's in those decisive moments were taken with precision, their efficiency telling the story of a team that knew exactly what it needed to do.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast of a 1–0 Newell's Old Boys win proved directionally correct — the home win probability was assessed at 40%, with the draw not far behind at 32%. The outcome validated our model's preference for the hosts, though the final scoreline of 2–0 exceeded our projected margin. The confidence level of 58/100 reflected a genuinely competitive tie on paper, and Riestra's statistics — particularly their dangerous attack numbers — justified some caution. Nevertheless, Newell's experience and home strength made the difference.

Key Takeaways

• Facundo Guch was the match's standout performer, contributing a goal and an assist to shape the result entirely.
• Martín Ortega's introduction at half-time proved crucial, with the substitute directly assisting the opener.
• Riestra's volume of attacks (113 total) without converting a single shot on target into a goal highlights a significant conversion problem for Duró to address.
• Newell's ability to control possession at 64% while remaining vulnerable to counters — and still keeping a clean sheet — speaks to defensive resilience under Kudelka.
• Three points at home keeps Newell's Old Boys in contention at a critical stage of