Nacional face Wanderers in the final
After a month’s break due to COVID postponements, Nacional face Montevideo Wanderers in the final of the Intermediate round in the Uruguay Primera Division on Thursday evening.
The match will be played at the Estadio Centenario, home of the Uruguay football team.
Nacional form
Last year’s Apertura losing finalists Nacional have not played since December 18 when they were knocked out of the Copa Libertadores by Argentinian side River Plate.
Jorge Giordano’s side won five and lost two of their seven games in Group B of the intermediate round.
Their last game of the group ended in a 3-2 defeat against Peñarol, but they only conceded three more goals in their other six matches, which means they had the best defence out of any side.
Nacional’s last trophy came in 2019, when they won the Clausura title. They were beaten 1-0 by Rentistas in extra time in the Apertura final last October.
The most successful club in Uruguay have won two intermediate finals (2017 & 2018) out of the four that have previously been played.
¡Hoy #JuegaNacional! 🔵⚪️🔴
El Decano enfrenta a @mwfc_oficial, en el Estadio Centenario, a las 20:00 horas. #DaleBolso #NacionalNacional pic.twitter.com/Z90I57BhhX— Nacional (@Nacional) January 14, 2021
Wanderers form
Wanderers bid to win their first title since 1931 under manager Roman Cuello. They were not involved in the Libertadores and have not played since the beginning of December. It is their first final in the modern era.
¡HOY JUEGA WANDERERS! 💪 pic.twitter.com/tGbn3u0ejV
— Montevideo Wanderers (@mwfc_oficial) January 14, 2021
The underdogs finished top of Group A with 14 points from their seven games. They scored 13 goals, two more than Nacional, but they also conceded two more goals than their fellow finalists.
They took 13 points from the 15 points available to qualify after a draw and a loss in their opening two games. Wanderers also scored eight goals in their last three group matches.
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