Saturday’s 19th-round fixture in Paraguay promises a clash with plenty at stake. Libertad and Nacional meet at La Huerta at 19:30 local time, both still hoping to stay in the title race behind leaders Olimpia.
Libertad searching for a turnaround
Libertad arrive in poor form, having lost their last two matches. The first defeat, against bottom-placed and already relegated Sportivo San Lorenzo, was a turning point: coach Nelson Haedo Valdez, who had been in charge since the start of the season, left the club after it.
The most recent setback came against Cerro Porteño, the first match for the young Ariel Galeano as interim-era head coach. That loss left Libertad nine points behind Olimpia, which makes the championship a remote prospect. Still, the team needs a result to avoid conceding the race altogether.
Nacional’s last chance to stay in contention
Nacional, who sit directly behind the leaders, also come into the game on the back of a defeat, one that again came at the hands of Sportivo San Lorenzo. That side seem to have become something of a bogey team for the top of the table.
Nacional are coached by Víctor Ceferino Bernay, whose team finished as runners-up in the Apertura tournament. They are seven points off the summit, and a win would keep them in a head-to-head fight with Olimpia. Given their position, many will see this match as one of the last realistic opportunities to remain in the championship chase.
Source: www.abc.com.py
