Olimpia arrive at Encarnación as the unbeaten leader of Paraguay’s Clausura 2026 and in top form, looking to move one step closer to a second straight championship when they face Guaraní in the ‘clásico más añejo’ at the Villa Alegre stadium.
Olimpia ride a four-match winning streak
The Decano comes into the match on four consecutive victories, the latest a 4-1 thrashing of Recoleta FC on Wednesday in which Gabriel Ávalos scored a hat-trick. Coach Pablo “Vitamina” Sánchez’s side will be aware that the first-round meeting ended 1-1, with Guaraní taking a point from that encounter.
Guaraní need a result to stay in the title race
Francisco “Chiqui” Arce’s team sit third, eight points behind the leaders. For the Cacique, this fixture is a crucial chance to keep their title hopes alive. A win would leave them five points off the top with three rounds remaining. Guaraní also arrive on a three-match winning run and are targeting a place in the Copa Libertadores through the accumulated table.
Early goal sets the tone
According to the live coverage, the match got off to a dramatic start. Giovanni Gómez put Guaraní ahead in the 8th minute after a defensive error by Olimpia. Maximiliano Añasco broke down the left and sent in a low cross to the near post, and Raúl Cáceres’s attempted clearance with his weaker foot was short, allowing Gómez to drive a low shot past Gastón Olveira.
A sold-out occasion in Encarnación
The match is being played at the Villa Alegre, where more than 12,000 seats have been sold and tickets are sold out. Derlis López is the referee for the afternoon’s clash, which kicks off at 17:00 local time as part of the nineteenth round.
Olimpia chase their 49th star
Olimpia’s squad returned to training on Thursday after the midweek win, with the club’s supporters hoping the Decano can add a 49th star to its crest. With three rounds left, the question for many fans is whether Olimpia can clinch the title in Encarnación.
Source: www.abc.com.py
