The Nicaragua Primera Division clausura final comes down to one game on Sunday when Managua host Real Esteli. The two sides met in the first leg of the clausura final with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.
The first leg of the final was short on goals but not on hard, competitive play. Real Esteli opened the scoring through Marlon Lopez in the 64th minute. Managua needed just five minutes to comeback score an equaliser courtesy of Pablo Gallego.
The final features the two best teams from the Nicaragua Primera Division clausura. Managua tallied just more points than Real Esteli in the table. Both sides were free-scoring teams and featured the clausura’s best defences.
Managua tallied a league leading 33 goals while conceding 15 strikes. Real Esteli scored 29 goals in the competition conceding a clausura low 11 times.
Real Esteli are unbeaten in five of their last seven matches against Managua. Although they finished second in the clausura table, Real Esteli have been very good against Managua.
Despite their good form on paper against Managua, Sunday’s home team are unbeaten in their last three straight games versus Real Esteli. Managua’s most recent win against Real Esteli came in February and ended 2-0.
The last two fixtures between the clubs, including the first leg of the final, finished 1-1. Sunday’s final could end the same way with the two strongest teams meeting once more.
Both clubs went through the clausura playoffs without a loss. The two teams will fancy their chances of keeping up their form.
Managua forward Gallego’s second half equaliser brought the side back from the edge of defeat. He scored eight goals during the clausura season. Fellow forward Christiano bagged six goals. Real Esteli’s Taufic Guarch scored five goals for the club while Luis Acuna added four more goals.
Real Esteli are the underdogs heading into the fixture according to leading sportsbooks. Despite being the underdogs and playing away from home, Real Esteli have the chance to knock off their rival.
Just like the first leg between Managua and Real Esteli, the second match should be close with nothing to separate the two sides. Similar to the first leg, Sunday’s game should see a 1-1 stalemate between the title rivals.
The second leg final should see under 2.5 goals with both sides finding the back of the net. The final will then be decided in extra-time. Can Managua lift the trophy or will Real Esteli win as underdogs?