Defensa y Justicia 2-1 Newell's Old Boys: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Liga Profesional Argentina Matchday 4 · Sunday 9 August 2026 · Estadio Norberto Tito Tomaghello, Florencio Varela · referee ?. Carranza · full time
Full time: Defensa y Justicia 2-1 Newell's Old Boys
Defensa y Justicia beat Newell's Old Boys 2-1 in Liga Profesional Argentina Matchday 4 on Sunday 9 August 2026 at Estadio Norberto Tito Tomaghello. The goals: Fernando Román 32', Tomás Pérez 68', Bruno Cabrera 83'.
How Defensa y Justicia won it
Fernando Román put Defensa y Justicia ahead in the 32nd minute, set up by César Pérez. Tomás Pérez made it 2-0 to Defensa y Justicia in the 68th minute, set up by Valentín Pucheta Loza. Bruno Cabrera made it 2-1 to Newell's Old Boys in the 83rd minute, set up by Martín Ortega.
It was 1-0 at half-time.
Jeronimo Russo of Newell's Old Boys was sent off in the 40th minute for a second yellow card. The referee, ?. Carranza, showed 4 yellow cards: 3 to Defensa y Justicia and 1 to Newell's Old Boys.
Defensa y Justicia: J. Vaccari, 4-2-3-1 · Newell's Old Boys: F. Kudelka, 4-2-3-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 0.52 for Defensa y Justicia and 1.37 for Newell's Old Boys.
Defensa y Justicia scored about 1.5 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.
Newell's Old Boys created the better chances, 1.37 xG to 0.52, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.
Defensa y Justicia had 6 shots on target, Newell's Old Boys 4.
Defensa y Justicia had 59% of the ball and turned it into the win.
A red card changed the shape of the match, and no pre-match model can see one coming.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Defensa y Justicia came into it with 30 Liga Profesional Argentina matches played, scoring 1.3 and conceding 1.1 a match, with 1.21 expected goals for and 1.07 against, and had won 40% of their matches.
Newell's Old Boys came into it with 30 Liga Profesional Argentina matches played, scoring 0.9 and conceding 1.2 a match, with 0.97 expected goals for and 1.02 against, and had won 27% of their matches.
Defensa y Justicia vs Newell's Old Boys: the match in numbers
| Defensa y Justicia | Match statistics | Newell's Old Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 59% | Ball possession | 41% |
| 0.52 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.37 |
| 16 | Total shots | 10 |
| 6 | Shots on target | 4 |
| 3 | Big chances | 2 |
| 462 | Total passes | 307 |
| 84% | Pass accuracy | 75% |
| 3 | Corners | 7 |
| 14 | Fouls | 10 |
| 8 | Offsides | 0 |
| 33 | Tackles | 15 |
| 3 | Saves | 4 |
| 3 | Yellow cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red cards | 1 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Fernando Román (Defensa y Justicia), rated 7.9 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal.
Defensa y Justicia
- Fernando Román 7.9 1 goal
- David Barbona 7.9
- Santiago Sosa 7.7
- César Pérez 7.3 1 assist
- David Martínez 7.2
Newell's Old Boys
- Bruno Cabrera 7.4 1 goal
- Walter Mazzantti 7.0
- Martín Ortega 6.8 1 assist
- Lautaro Giannetti 6.8
- Josué Reinatti 6.7
The lowest-rated starter was Jeronimo Russo at 4.8. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Defensa y Justicia: Defensa y Justicia vs Independiente Monday 2 November 2026 · Liga Profesional Argentina
- Newell's Old Boys: Newell's Old Boys vs Unión Santa Fe Sunday 1 November 2026 · Liga Profesional Argentina
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Defensa y Justicia vs Newell's Old Boys
What was the score in Defensa y Justicia vs Newell's Old Boys?
Defensa y Justicia 2-1 Newell's Old Boys (half-time 1-0), Liga Profesional Argentina, Sunday 9 August 2026.
Who scored in Defensa y Justicia vs Newell's Old Boys?
Fernando Román 32', Tomás Pérez 68', Bruno Cabrera 83'.
Did Moneyball predict Defensa y Justicia vs Newell's Old Boys correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Defensa y Justicia vs Newell's Old Boys?
Fernando Román, rated 7.9 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Defensa y Justicia vs Newell's Old Boys?
?. Carranza.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.