Sol de América v 12 de Octubre

Two teams on pitiful runs of form go head-to-head on Wednesday hoping to find an elusive win, both sides have just one victory in their last 10 games. Since the last meeting, a 0-0 draw, 12 de Octubre have managed to score in all three away games including trips to Olimpia and Cerro Porteño. In the danzarín’s two home games during that period they haven’t been able to find the back of the net.

New manager Pablo “Cholo” Guiñazú has picked up two players since their opening day defeat with left-back Rodrigo Alborno and talented midfielder Adelio Zárate joining the side on loan. Santiago Salcedo wasn’t available for the last game but was seen training on Monday and the veteran striker is in line for a start. Marcos Miers hobbled off on his debut, the central defender had given away a penalty before leaving the field – he will likely be replaced by the equally experienced Gustavo Mencia.

Although 12 de Octubre took a surprise early lead against Cerro Porteño in their opener, the team capitulated within 3 minutes as El Ciclón scored twice to turn the game on its head. That speaks more to their current level of confidence than quality, the re-signing of Víctor “Topo” Cáceres means they have a strong and experienced midfield duo, with Aldo Vera his partner. The tejedores forced Jean Fernandes into some good saves and have become a more attacking threat under Robert Pereira who has now been in charge for six games.

BTTS hasn’t landed in the last seven games but at over evens it would be tempting should Santiago Salcedo start for the home side. But more interesting is the double chance for 12 de Octubre who have lost just once in the last five meetings, and that was to an 88th-minute penalty in Itauguá as Sol scraped a 1-0 win. The danzarín haven’t won this fixture at home since 2009 and their current form doesn’t suggest they are ready to snap that streak.

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Tacuary v Cerro Porteño

After just ten minutes it seemed that Cerro’s calamitous run was set to continue as they fell behind to a bundled goal against lowly 12 de Octubre. However the team rallied quickly to find two goals, the second a sumptuous strike from Belgium-bound (Anderlecht) Alan Rodríguez.

Chiqui Arce’s team was also buoyed by the return of Federico Carrizo after missing several games through personal reasons, it was his first appearance since rejoining the club in June. Marcelo Moreno also found the net and insisted in a post-match press conference that he feels more goals will come. The victory ended a run of four games without a Cerro player scoring, their only blot on the scoresheet in that stint was an own goal coincidentally by a Tacuary player.

Néstor Giménez was the unfortunate man on that occasion which handed all three points to Cerro Porteño earlier in the month. While Tacuary fielded their strongest side available in that game, their rivals had put together a B team with the senior players rested for a trip to Palmeiras. Tacua have struggled for goals at the right end, drawing blanks in five of their last six matches. Valdeci Moreira looked good against Guaireña in the last game, but for all the Brazilian’s creativity on his debut his teammates couldn’t provide the finishing touch.

With Cerro seemingly turning a page on their end of season slump and Tacuary still stuck in a rut, it would be a surprise to see Iván Almeida’s team get anything from this game.

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Nacional v Resistencia

Both sides come into the match having won their opener 2-1, and it comes as little surprise that these teams were in the goals given that they both averaged Over 2.5 during the Apertura. Their previous meeting in May was also 2-1 (Resistencia came from behind to win) while the first game of the year between these two was a 3-1 victory, also for Roberto “Tiburón” Torres’ side.

Nacional celebrated a win on the road thanks to a goal from a most familiar source, Facundo Bruera their top scorer and a strike from a new gem, the 18-year-old Francisco Morel making his debut. The victory ended a four-game streak without maximum points but it is worth noting that Pedro Sarabia has made his side harder to beat, losing just once in six and that was to in-form Guaraní. Bruera’s unstoppable form has once again caused rumours about his departure, this week his management group have already turned down an offer from Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova but are in talks with a team in Czechia about the 23-year-old Argentine. The Academia will be missing two defensive players, Rolando Garcia and Jordan Santacruz both sent off against Guaireña. Bruno Cabrera and Marcelo Palau would be the most likely replacements.

Resistencia’s opening day success also ended a difficult run of form for the Asunción-based club, having lost five in a row to finish the Apertura and going eight games without a win. Torres had made eight signings in the offseason to try and set things right, three of those were straight into the XI as the experienced Osmar Molinas partnered Alexis Rojas in midfield. Young defender Alexis Villalba was also used from the go.

With the game being played on neutral ground, and the possibility that Bruera might not be in the matchday squad it seems fair that Resistencia can get something from the fixture as they continue their good run of form against this opponent.

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