Nicaragua Primera Division Odds & Picks: Clausura Matchday 16

• Five weekend fixtures ahead as Nicaragua Primera Liga defies soccer shut-down
• Third-placed Real Esteli on three-match streak without a win before trip to Chinandega
• See all odds and best bets for Nicaragua Primera Liga Clausura

League football carries on in Nicaragua despite the global coronavirus crisis which has shut down most of world soccer.

Matches in the 10-team Primera Liga Clausura competition are being played behind closed doors with Round 16 fixtures in store this weekend.

Some players have protested against the decision to carry on with officials admitting that they are unsure whether the league will finish.

Nicaragua  Clausura Odds

Odds taken Apr. 10

Pick 1: Chinandega vs Real Esteli

Real Esteli have slipped from second place after a 0-0 draw at home against Juventus Managua in the previous round of fixtures.

That made it three games without a win for Esteli.

They travel on Sunday to face Chinandega who have won two of their last three games when they on April 12, Estadio La Veranera, Chinandega, at 5:00 pm EST.

The oddsmakers make third-placed Esteli wide favorites for a win at -204, with Chinandega at +326. But a draw looks good value at +254.

Sixth-placed Chinandega were defeated 3-0 away from home by Diriangen on Thursday.

Chinandega may be able to claim a point against Esteli even though their home record is patchy with four wins, one draw and two defeats.

But they had previously shown an up-turn in form with a 4-0 win at home against Juventus followed by a 1-0 victory against Municipal Jalapa.

This suggests that Chinandega may be able to claim a point against Esteli even though their home record is patchy with four wins, one draw and two defeats.

Esteli have the second most impressive away record in the competition with three wins, two draws and two defeats.

GOOOAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!

1-1 GET IN!@realestelifc 🇦🇹🚂 pic.twitter.com/PaLfDGvbbj

— DanShaw (@danielUknow96) April 2, 2020

They were 5-1 winners against Chinandega when the teams met on March 8.

But there is not much value in their price for a victory which makes the draw a more interesting prospect.

The overall record for Chinandega stands at five wins, three draws and seven defeats. They have scored 15 times and conceded eight goals.

In total, Esteli have won eight times with four draws and three defeats. They have scored 24 goals and conceded only nine.

Pick: Draw  +254

Pick 2: Deportivo Las Sabanas vs Managua

Leaders Managua are unbeaten in nine matches and returned to form Wednesday with a 2-1 defeat of bottom club Deportivo Ocotal following two successive draws.

They travel on Saturday to face ninth-placed Deportivo Las Sabanas who have shown a recent improvement in an unbeaten run of three games when they play on Saturday, April 11, at Stadio Agosto Mendoza, Somoto, at 6:00 pm EST.

However, the spread offer of +106 for Managua to win by more than one goal looks good value.

The team has the best record on the road in the competition with four wins two draws and two defeats.

Managua’s defeat of Deportivo Octotal followed a brief stumble in which they drew 1-1 at home against Real Esteli and were then held 0-0 at Real Madriz.

Las Sabanas have the league’s worst home record with just one win, four draws and two defeats.

Managua’s defeat of Deportivo Ocotal followed a brief stumble in which they drew 1-1 at home against Real Esteli and were then held 0-0 at Real Madriz.

The overall record for the team from the capital city of Mangua stands at 10 wins, three draws and two defeats with 24 goals scored and 14 conceded.

The Nicaragua league is one of only two in progress worldwide, with Managua FC leading the Clausura tournament. La Maquinaria Azul recently won the derby against Juventus and two of their four goals came from good collective movements pic.twitter.com/CkfofZV7Kt

— Luís Viegas (@luisviegasfoot) March 30, 2020

Las Sabanas began their recent undefeated run on their own patch with a 2-1 defeat of Real Madriz.

This was followed by a 1-1 draw against Deportivo Octotal and then a 0-0 draw with Municipal Jalapa.

Their total statistics are two wins, five draws and eight defeats with 10 goals scored and 27 conceded.

They have the worst defensive record in the competition which adds to the value of the spread price for Managua to win by more than one goal.

Pick: Managua -1, -1½ (+106)

Pick 3: Juventus Managua vs Real Madriz

In seventh place, Juventus Managua face eighth-placed Real Madriz at Stadio Arnoldo y Matty Chavez, Masaya, Saturday, April 11, at 8:00 pm EST.

Books offer a price of -135 for a home win for Juventus with Real Madriz at +220. The draw is best value at +221.

Juventus have won four times at home while drawing twice. They’re coming off a midweek draw on the road to Real Esteli 0-0.

Football in Nicaragua is enjoying a surge in popularity. It is one of only a few national leagues still ongoing, but players there are concerned about the spread of the coronavirus and say fear has changed the way they play. https://t.co/faWVQtUldS via @SABCNewsOnline

— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 6, 2020

Real Madriz’s record on their travels stands at just one win with no draws and six defeats. On the road Wednesday, they fell 4-0 to Walter Ferretti.

But in the search for value across the league, the draw is an intriguing prospect – backed up by the fact that Juventus have drawn five of their 15 fixtures. These teams have drawn in each of their past two matchups, 0-0 and 1-1.

Their total record consists of four wins, five draws and six defeats with 20 goals scored and 21 conceded.

For Real Madriz the complete record so far is four wins, two draws and nine defeats with 12 goals scored and 22 conceded.

Pick: Draw +221