Can Marathón Sustain Home Dominance Against Real España?
The 251st edition of the Clásico Sampedrano is set to take place this Wednesday at the Olímpico Stadium. Marathón, currently second in the league with 23 points, aims to keep pace with leader Olimpia, who has 27 points and plays Motagua on Thursday. Real España, with 18 points, seeks to improve their standing after accumulating points prior to the international break.
Marathón recently achieved a convincing 3-1 victory against Juticalpa, thanks to a hat-trick by Nicolás Messinitti, who scored at 18, 33, and 45 minutes. Josué Villafranca netted the lone goal for Juticalpa in the 67th minute. Messinitti now leads the Apertura scoring chart with 11 goals.
Real España also brings momentum into this match, having won their last game 2-1 against Excelsior, with goals from Yeison Moreno and Wesley Decas. The latter match marked another step forward for Real España in their quest for league positioning.
Historical Context of the Rivalry
In their earlier meeting during this season, Real España triumphed 1-0 at Estadio Morazán, thanks to a goal from Jack Jean Baptiste just before half-time. Historically, Real España leads their encounters with Marathón, with 93 wins compared to Marathón’s 79, along with 78 draws. The teams have combined for 597 total goals in their rivalry, with Real España netting 316 times compared to Marathón’s 281.
Recent Home Performance
- Marathón’s last 6 home games against Real España: 5 wins, 1 draw.
- Their only loss in that stretch was a 0-1 defeat on August 24, 2024.
Pablo Lavallén, the coach of Marathón, has faced Real España three times without a win—twice with Olimpia and once with his current squad. Notably, he has not scored any goals against Real España in his last two matches.
Real España’s Challenges on the Road
Real España has struggled recently, with only one win in their past 12 league visits, registering 5 draws and 6 losses. Their sole victory came on August 9, against CD Choloma, where they won 3-0. Jeaustin Campos has faced Marathón twice as a visiting coach, securing one win and one loss thus far.
As both teams prepare for this crucial encounter, the question remains: Can Marathón sustain their home dominance against Real España? Fans will be eager to see if Marathón can extend their impressive home record or if Real España can turn their fortunes around.
