Liga Primera de Nicaragua football: everything you need to know

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Diriangen v Deportivo Ocotal in the Liga Primera de Nicaragua.

When to bet by

1am Sunday

Best bets

Under 2.5 goals in Diriangen v Deportivo Ocotal
1pt 17-20 bet365
Back this tip with bet365

Half-time result draw
1pt 13-10 bet365
Back this tip with bet365

Where in the world is it and what tier of football?

The Liga Primera de Nicaragua is the premier football division in Nicaragua and it was created in 1933.

The league consists of ten teams and is organised by the Nicaraguan Football Federation.

The season has been played in two halves since 2017. The Torneo de Apertura takes place from August through to November while the Torneo de Clausura begins in January and finishes in May.

Each of the regular seasons culminate in a playoff featuring the top teams over a two-legged semi-final and final, while the bottom club in the aggregate table are relegated.

The loser of the playoff between the eighth and ninth-placed teams are also demoted to the Segunda Division.

What's happened so far this season?

Real Esteli won this season's Torneo de Apertura, overcoming Diriangen on away goals in the semi-final before beating Managua 2-1 on aggregate.

Diriangen, who are country's most decorated club with 27 titles, are setting the Torneo de Clausura pace at the halfway stage with 20 points collected from their opening nine games.

Managua are second with 19 points, while Real Esteli are two points further back in third but will still be confident of seeking further success this season after losing only twice.

Deportivo Las Sabanas look this season's weak link and have made a horrible start to the Torneo de Clausura, claiming just four points from their first nine matches.

Who is the top goalscorer?

Managua's Lucas Dos Santos was last season's leading marksman with 15 goals but that mantle has taken by teammate Carlos Felix this term.

Felix fired home ten goals in Managua's run to the Torneo de Apertura final in December.

Are there any trends to follow?

Goals are hard to come by in matches including table-toppers Diriangen. Their nine league games this term have featured only 13 goals - an average of just 1.44 per game.

Juventus Managua are this season's draw specialists with four stalemates from their opening nine Torneo de Clausura matches.

Eight of Deportivo Ocotal's nine matches have been level at the break, which includes all five of their games on home soil.

Give us a fun fact

Jose Maria Bermudez netted nine goals in one league match for Diriangen against Los Pinares, in February 1997 - a record that still stands.

Match preview

Diriangen are the most successful team in Liga Primera de Nicaragua history and they are not hanging about in their pursuit of an unprecedented 28th title.

Tyron Acevedo's side have taken early control of the Torneo de Clausura with six wins and two draws from their opening nine matches and bookmakers are expecting them to make fairly routine work of visitors Deportivo Ocotal early Sunday morning.

However, Diriangen have netted only ten times from their nine assignments and for all they get the job done they aren't a side who are going to obliterate the opposition.

Both teams have scored in only two of Diriangen's nine outings, with three of their six wins finishing 1-0 and another two ending 2-0.

And that could play into the hands of Deportivo Ocotal, who arrive in Diriamba on a three-game unbeaten streak having kept consecutive clean sheets.

Amazingly, eight of Ocotal's nine matches have been level at half-time and Diriangen's lack of firepower could see a closer affair than the layers are expecting.

Taking the 17-20 about the game featuring three or fewer goals and backing a half-time draw at juicier quotes of 13-10 both appeal.

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