Rosario Central v Newell’s: city derby sets pulses racing Saturday | OneFootball

This Saturday will be a day of super action in Rosario, reminiscent of those days from decades ago, when cowboy movies, spy movies, or endless chase movies would bring entire families together in front of the TV, not moving from their seats until the end.

In this case, the protagonists of the story will be Central and Newell's, in a new edition of the passionate and often crazy classic of Rosarian football. What will make this new city derby special? The fact that Ángel Di María will play again, after many years in Europe watching the game on TV with his team's jersey on, thousands of kilometers away. On the other side will be Ever Banega, another international player and great friend of "Fideo" from their years together in the national team. Ariel Holan, who has only directed one classic so far and won it, will face off against the "Ogre" Fabbiani, who played a derby at Newell's stadium in 2008 and was also able to celebrate victory.

Then, the usual: the fear of losing, the illusion of winning, the pre-game nerves and anxiety, passion in its maximum expression. And a security operation that will try not to leave any loose ends in the entire Rosarian geography.

In strictly football terms, it's difficult to say which of the two teams is better prepared for this sixth-round match of the Clausura Tournament. Central is doing better in the standings, both in the current tournament - they are in different zones - and in the annual standings that define the classification for the cups. But Newell's comes from qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Argentine Cup, playing a very good game against Atlético Tucumán, and from getting a good point at Defensa y Justicia's stadium with a completely substitute lineup. The "Canalla" has more individual hierarchy in its squad, and the "Lepra" makes up for the lack of variants with the delivery and sacrifice that its coach instills. In a previous scenario of parity, the classic can be defined by details or imponderables.

Central is "angelized"

Just by looking at the statistics of the last 12 years, it's clear that Rosario Central has been the owner of the Rosarian classic since its return to the first division. To the point that today it leads its eternal rival by 20 games. Before 2013, the numbers were even, but in the last decade and a bit, the "canallas" built a streak as crushing as it was unpredictable.

In that entire period, 22 official classics were played: Central won 14, they drew 6 times, and Newell's was only able to win 2 games, both as a visitor. Really devastating. By those numbers that today represent the greatest historical difference, because it will play at home with all its people, because of Di María's return, and because it has a squad with hierarchy that was assembled to fight for transcendent objectives, Central is obliged to seek victory in this classic. The question is how coach Ariel Holan will try to do it, since in these first games of the second half of the year, he hasn't been able to find the key to his team's collective game.

So far in the championship, Central has been solid in defense - it has only conceded 2 goals in 5 games - and combative in the middle of the field. But it has cost them a lot to generate offensive play and even more to score in the opposing goal. They have only scored 3 goals: 2 penalties, executed with mastery by Di María, and 1 header, signed by Alejo Véliz. They haven't lost, but they have only been able to rescue 1 win, which was as visitors at Lanús' stadium. At the "Giant", where the classic will be played this Saturday, they still haven't been able to celebrate.

As for the starting lineup that Holan will put out, no big surprises are expected. Facundo Mallo will return for the injured Juan Giménez in central defense, and if the Uruguayan is not fully recovered from his physical problems, Juan Cruz Komar will enter to form a duo with Carlos Quintana. In the attack, the doubt could pass through the inclusion or not of Jaminton Campaz, with a weak present, or Enzo Copetti alongside Véliz, to play with two "tanks" that pressure the "leprosy" centrals.

With the ferocity of an "Ogre"

Since Cristian Fabbiani took over the tactical direction of Newell's, coincidentally after Mariano Soso's departure following a loss to the eternal rival at home, the "Ogre" set himself the goal of returning the joy of winning the city classic to the "leprosy" fans.

It's a challenge that he's been building based on a message of sacrifice, delivery, and conviction that this time they can cut the opposing streak. Fabbiani tries to absorb all the pressure to free his players in the search for victory in a big game, as happened in the last championship against Boca or in the recent Copa Argentina matches.

Newell's arrives at this classic with its spirit strengthened. Having accessed the quarterfinals of the Argentine Cup, in a good game against the tough Atlético Tucumán, was the boost that the squad needed to convince itself that it can go for important goals. And the draw they got against Defensa y Justicia with a 100% substitute lineup was also a positive sign. Additionally, the team reconciled with its fans, who on Thursday filled the "Colossus" in a new "Banderazo" and showed all their illusion.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.