Real Esteli vs. Diriangen Odds, Prediction, and Pick – Liga Primera de Nicaragua, April 15

This is the game of the week in Nicaragua, as second takes on third in a battle that could ultimately decide which team earns a bye for the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.

Both sides have endured some patchy form over the past few weeks, and a win for either would really make a difference with just one regular season game to play after this one. This Real Esteli vs. Diriangen betting preview provides you with the details.

The Apertura champions are favorites to win this according to BetOnline, but I feel this is much closer than the odds suggest. Esteli’s home field advantage obviously comes into play, but Diriangen is pushing for that top two finish as well, and I think a draw could be a better value wager when looking at the odds.

Esteli’s draw against league leaders Managua in round 13 looks like it was a very important point now, as it stopped its rivals from growing an even bigger lead while keeping its own chances well and truly alive. There have been some more disappointing results since then, but the win at the weekend was very welcome.

Chinandega had troubled a number of the top teams, and when it equalized thanks to a penalty just before half time, it did look like Esteli might have to settle for the draw. But two goals in the space of five minutes in the second half won the points and a renewed chance of that top-two finish.

Diriangen’s players will obviously have something to say about that but could have done with more than a goalless draw with Jalapa at the weekend. That was a game that the Caciques should probably have won and now makes this encounter with Esteli even more important.

The game between the two earlier in the season ended in a 2-0 win for Diriangen, so a draw away from home might be the least that Brazilian manager Flavio da Silva expects. Both defenses have been on top form this season, so this could be a tight and tense affair.

Both sides have only conceded 10 goals each during the Clausura season, so this could well be a question of which back line breaks first. Real Esteli has scored far more goals than its opponents here, but at this time of the season, I would expect both teams to concentrate on what is going on at the back rather than what is happening up front.

That’s why I think a draw is a more likely outcome, and it also has the most attractive odds for me.

You can find more soccer previews from multiple leagues in our soccer blog.

That includes the four other games from Nicaragua on Thursday. Here are my predictions and betting picks for them.