MIAMI, Florida – Things stand on a knife’s edge in the Real Espana-Real Esteli series as the two teams get set for their 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League Preliminary Round second leg on Thursday night at the Estadio Francisco Morazan in San Pedro Sula.
The two sides played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Nicaragua with chances few and far between for the two clubs.
History will be on Real Espana’s side when the opening whistle sounds, as Honduras clubs boast a 5W-3D-1L record, with 16 goals scored and seven conceded in nine SCL matches against Nicaraguan opponents.
Real Esteli do have a victory over a Honduran rival to their name when they topped Marathon 2-0 in the second leg of the 2021 SCL Round of 16.
Thursday’s contest also marks the sixth all-time Concacaf meeting between the two teams, with Real Espana leading the series with two wins and three draws.
No matter what transpires, Real Espana know they will be in good hands with GK Luis Lopez, who had four saves in the first leg.
Veteran MF Luis Garrido was also a steady presence in midfield with 44 passes completed, while Yeison Mejia led the Catracho side in shots with two.
There is ample experience as well on the Real Esteli side of the ball, with Marlon Lopez set to play in his 11th career SCL match across five editions, while Fabian Monserrat seemingly covered every blade of grass in the first leg, accumulating two shots, three ball recoveries and 56 completed passes.
Real España vs. Real Estelí
⚽️ First leg result: Real Estelí 0-0 Real España, July 28, at the Independencia Stadium, Estelí, Nicaragua.
⚽️ On August 9, 2017, Honduras Progreso -HON-, lost 0-1 vs. Universitario of Panama with a goal by Alfredo Stephens, in the second leg of the Round of 16 in the only game played at the Morazán Stadium in San Pedro Sula.
⚽️ The Honduran teams win the All- Time series against Nicaragua's rival in the SCL: G-9 W-5 D-3 L-1 GF-16 GA-7.
⚽️ Real Estelí's only victory was 2-0 vs. CD Marathón (HON) in the 2021 Round of 16 goals by (Danilo Farías and Widman Talavera).
⚽️ Real Estelí has never advanced from the Preliminary Round.
⚽️ The 0-0 draw vs. Real España was the first for Real Estelí in the SCL. Previously, when he did not lose, he was eliminated (vs. Santa Tecla in the Preliminary Round IN 2019 due to the away goal rule).
⚽️ Real Estelí is the Nicaraguan team with the most appearances in the SCL with (5) in (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022), with (10) games played, wins (4), points (14) and goals scored (9) and (9 goals conceded).