Nacional and Deportivo Maldonado will play on Monday, October 23 at the Gran Parque Central at 20:15 for the seventh round of the Torneo Clausura in the Uruguayan Championship, in a match that can be watched on Star+.
Why is it important
After the tough defeat against Boston River, Nacional arrives at this match in need of a quick comeback to get back in the race for the title, both in terms of results and morale.
The departure of Álvaro Gutiérrez opened the door for the arrival of "Chino" Álvaro Recoba, who took over as the new coach of the team and will make his debut as a first division coach against Deportivo Maldonado. An idol of the club during his playing career, Recoba will now take on a new role in a crucial moment of the Uruguayan Championship, knowing that he has a lot of room for improvement as the team's style of play has not been satisfying its fans.
On the other hand, Deportivo Maldonado, led by Fabián Coito, needs to end their three-match winless streak, which has placed them in the lower part of the table in both the Clausura and the Overall Table. Although the team is not in danger of relegation due to their successful 2022 season, they need to increase their points to secure a spot in international competitions and play the 2024 season without worrying about relegation.
Players to watch
Emmanuel Gigliotti started in the last game, the 0-2 defeat against Boston River, after scoring the winning goal in the previous match against Cerro as a substitute. It is still unknown whether Gigliotti will remain in the starting lineup or if Juan Ignacio Ramírez will return to play instead. It is likely that Ramírez will regain his usual position after having more rest, and he will be the man to watch for Deportivo's defense, which has significant height and will try to stop his aerial threat.
Eduardo Darias is one of the key players for Deportivo Maldonado. The midfielder has dynamism and good coverage to contribute both offensively and defensively, and he can be a crucial piece for Fabián Coito in trying to disrupt Nacional's game.
Current form
Nacional suffered a 2-0 defeat against Boston River in the sixth round, where things did not go well for them. They were tactically and physically outplayed and could have lost by a larger margin.
Deportivo Maldonado comes from a goalless draw against River Plate, in a close match where they lacked accuracy to score.
Last meeting
The last time these teams faced each other was in the Torneo Intermedio, in the B Series. In that match, played on June 17, 2023, Nacional thrashed Deportivo Maldonado 4-0 with goals from Juan Ignacio Ramírez, Federico Martínez, Alfonso Trezza, and Bruno Damiani.
When and how to watch
The match will be played on Monday, October 23 at 20:15 at the Gran Parque Central, and can be watched live on Star+.