Managua FC vs. Real Esteli Betting Preview – Liga Primera de Nicaragua, May 9

The 2019/20 Liga de Nicaragua season comes to a close on Wednesday as Managua and Real Esteli stage a repeat of the Apertura final to decide who will be the Clausura champion.

These two are easily the best clubs in the country this year, so it is fitting that they will go head to head one last time to decide who will come out on top. And in this Managua FC vs. Real Esteli prediction post, I give you my thoughts on the match.

Managua is the favorite with sportsbook BetOnline to win the last game of the Clausura season, but the odds might reflect the fact that the Blue Lions do not even have to beat Real Esteli here to win the championship. The away goal in the first leg would be enough to claim the title if this ends in a goalless draw, so that should be something to consider when betting the match result here. It should also be noted that the match bet refers to the score at the end of 90 minutes.

This is now Managua’s championship to lose after Pablo Gallego canceled out Marlon Lopez’s effort for Real Esteli in the first leg. That means that the visitors will be the ones forced to come out and play here — something that could suit Managua down to the ground.

Managua has now gone 14 games unbeaten in the Liga Primera de Nicaragua and has not lost a single game at home during the Clausura. But Real Esteli is the only team to take a point off of the Apertura runners up and beat the home side in that final last year, so this tie is in no way over.

But there is a lot to do for Esteli if it is to follow up the Apertura title with the Clausura this weekend. A repeat of the surprising 3-0 win on Managua’s home ground during the regular Apertura season is needed if El Tren del Norte is to pick up its 13^th league title since the turn of the century.

But the odds are against the away team here. In a low-scoring league, Esteli scored far fewer than Managua during the regular season and has not blown away teams during the playoffs in the same way as its opponent here did. A famous victory is needed if Real Esteli is to lift silverware again this weekend, but that might just be out of its reach now. 

Although Managua could draw this game and still win the tie, I believe that it will look to make the result a certainty by winning its home leg, too. There may well be a cautious approach from the capital city club, but a narrow victory would confirm its dominance during the Clausura and claim bragging rights over the club that has become its main rival for silverware over the past few years.