Resistencia v Olimpia

Olimpia kept up their positive run over the weekend with another late Richard Ortiz goal giving them a 2-1 victory over General Caballero. They look to make it seven straight wins as they take on a Resistencia side that has lost their last three.

Resistencia are in a strange situation, after a run of five 1-0 matches (three in their favour and two against) they have collapsed defensively conceding three goals in each of their last three games. The 3-2 defeat to Ameliano match was especially frustrating as they had gone into halftime with the lead. Diego Martínez was sent off in stoppage time and will miss this match. Cards have been the reason why we have seen a revolving central defensive partnership over the last three games, the preferred partnership is Juan Recalde and Gustavo Villamayor but the latter culminates his two game suspension for a red card against Tacuary. The right back Óscar Brizuela is also missing having picked up a fifth yellow card in injury time.

Julio César Cáceres in contrast can welcome back players to his fold, Brian Montenegro began training after a calf strain saw him miss the match against General Caballero. Richard Ortiz has been used as a substitute in the last two games but could be used from the start as he builds up to match fitness. Víctor “Tucu” Salazar was sent off in the last game so his replacement at right back will likely be the Colombian Sergio Otálvaro who hasn’t started since September but has been used off the bench in four of the last five games.

The previous meeting between these sides ended in a 1-1 draw, the only time the game has gone under 2.5 this year. BTTS has landed in all four games between them and OIimpia have conceded 1.2 goals on average in away games. Only three of their eight clean sheets this year have come on the road, with only one in Asunción (vs Ameliano). El Decano have also conceded in the last five games in which Otálvaro, a more attacking full back, has started.

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Nacional v Guaireña

The league leaders Nacional have just four hurdles between them and a first title since 2013. Pedro Sarabia’s side put their 14 game unbeaten streak to the test against Guaireña who have gone four games unbeaten with three 0-0 draws playing with ten men.

At the weekend Pedro Sarabia’s side became the first Paraguayan team to beat Libertad at the renovated La Huerta stadium as the Apertura champions suffered their first defeat on that ground since May 2021. Facundo Bruera was key in the build up to the goal, his turn setting up Danilo Santacruz who has now registered eight goals in 2022, his best ever league return in a calendar year. Richard Prieto started in the win over Libertad, his first league start since suffering an injury in August. His return really strengthens the side’s attacking output.

Guaireña’s season has been fizzling out with three 0-0 draws in the last four games and the team picking up a red card in each of those matches. Most recently it is central defender Gustavo Navarro who misses out the trip to Asunción, Guaireña have only lost once in the 8 games he has started, compared to 5 defeats in the 10 games he has been absent. The Albiceleste have only picked up one win on their travels in the Clausura averaging just 0.78 goals per game compared to 1.67 at home. The glimmer of good news is the return of Pablo Ayala from injury, the attacking midfielder came on as a sub in the last match and will be hoping for more than 15 minutes against Nacional.

Nacional won 3-1 in their last meeting, and that was also the scoreline the only time they met at the Arsenio Erico Stadium in 2022. All the signs point to the league leaders keeping up their winning run in this one.

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Guaraní v Libertad

This is a meeting between two teams who would have started the season hoping to be challenging for trophies but find themselves in 9th and 4th place respectively. Both managers take on their former clubs where they picked up their first Paraguayan title.

Fernando Jubero’s side suffered their third straight defeat on Sunday to Cerro Porteño but he was upset with the late penalty decision in favour of the opponents that proved to be the winner. Fernando Fernández has scored four goals in his last four home games and will relish the chance to go up against a Libertad side that has leaked goals this year. Néstor Camacho has also enjoyed a run out against his former club, scoring against them earlier this season – overall he has scored nine times against the Gumarelo.

Daniel Garnero lost his seventh game of the season last week, the most defeats he has suffered in a short season since coaching Guaraní (2017 Clausura) where he lost nine times. Should they fail to win in Dos Bocas it would be six games without a league win, equaling their disastrous streak in the 2021 Clausura. As mentioned above the defence has been a concern, picking up just two clean sheets in the last 11 matches. Away they concede an average of 1.56 goals per game and both Bocanegra and Viera have been used in central defence alongside Barboza in recent trips but to no avail.

With two streaky teams there doesn’t seem to be any value in either side outright, or even Guaraní on the double chance given their tendency to lose games late on. Nine of the last 11 league meetings between these sides has seen BTTS land, both times it didn’t was when Libertad played at home.

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Cerro Porteño v General Caballero

Cerro Porteño bounced back from the clásico defeat with a late win over Guaraní, and now they take on a General Caballero side who conceded a late winner ending their own run of back-to-back victories. It will be the rojo’s final game in Asunción this year as their Primera debut draws to a satisfying close.

Chiqui Arce’s team were lucky to come out of Dos Bocas with all three points as Claudio Aquino converted a late penalty against Guaraní. There was a slight tweak to the system as Beto Espínola returned at right back and Enzo Giménez was pushed forward to his natural position on the right wing. It meant Aquino dropped to the bench as Arce had to sacrifice an attacking midfielder and opted to keep Carrizo. All indications suggest he will stay with that system, but the doubts are whether Alan Rodríguez comes back in at left back and if Carrascal is included in the squad (dropped for indiscipline).

General Caballero will be without Derlis Martínez (suspended) and Wilder Viera (ineligible against parent club) as they look for midfield options. Ezequiel Alfonso Aranda is back from suspension and will likely fill in one of the gaps in the starting XI. The side from the east of the country have lost four of their last five trips to Asunción, only managing a win against Tacuary. Their last trip to La Nueva Olla ended in a 3-1 defeat as El Ciclón blew them away.

Cerro Porteño are rightly odds on favourites at home and it is also worth considering the motivations of both sides. The home team are chasing for the title and in the case of some players a contract extension, while General Caballero are counting down the days to the end of the season as they look to rest and recharge for next year.

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