Deportivo Saprissa - Cartagines

Costa Rica Primera Division, Verano

Saprissa found some great form, having a great run of 8 games without losing in the league, 7 of them being victories, while also performing in the semi-finals of the Champions League. And with their position as group leaders 100% assured (5 points advantage with just this round remaining), they are free to change their focus to the Champions League, where they have the difficult mission of overturning a 0-2 deficit against Real Salt Lake. So far, only a few players certain of being rested, but all of them are pretty much key pieces of the team: veteran Walter Centeno, striker Alejandro Sequeira, defender Douglas Sequeira and forward Armando Alonso. But I am pretty sure that other players will be rested, as the CL semi-final is just 3 days from now, and they want all their players fit. For Cartagines, a win will only help them secure the second position, and should also prove a morale booster ahead of the play-offs. But the interesting thing appears when we look at the head-2-head: while playing away at Saprissa, Cartagines haven't lost in the last 5 matches, while Saprissa has only won 3 out of the last 12 games played at home. Also, Cartagines have only lost twice so far in 2010, and they look strong enough to hurt a semi-team of Saprissa. GL!

Cartagines (+0.5 AH) @ 1.84, 3/10

Result: 0-0, WON

Deportivo Saprissa - Herediano

Costa Rica Primera Division, Verano

We rarely see odds close to 2.00 on Saprissa at home, so this should be a good opportunity to take advantage of them. This is one of the derbies of the season for Saprissa, not as big as the one against Alajuelense, but still something that gets the blood moving. And after their dreadful season of Torneo Invierno, Saprissa looks to have found it's feet, and after the first 4 rounds of Verano they have only lost 1 match (against champions Alajuelense) and won 2, both at home, but in pretty impressive fashion: 3-0 against both San Carlos and Santos. So they clearly are on an uptrend, and should continue their current impressive home form. The first 11 should be the same as against Santos, the only absent being the injured Sirias. Herediano managed to reach the final in Invierno, but so far, their form hasn't been the same, as after a first round win at Puntarenas they went from draw to draw. Last match they were 2-men up, and still haven't managed to find the win against Limon, and even conceded the equalizer when their opponents were one man down. So their game plan is obviously not working, and I expect them to suffer a bit in 'La Cueva'. GL!

Saprissa (-0.5 AH) @ 1.95, 3/10

Result: 0-2, LOST

Cartagines - Brujas

Costa Rica Primera Division, Verano

Brujas has been hit by a serious crisis, and the club is trembling at every level. First of all, there is the financial insecurity, following the arrest of the owner Minor Vargas. Most of the players want to leave, and a lot of them already did, as 4 players (Andres Nunez, Rodolfo Rodríguez, Paolo Jimenez and Heiner Mora) managed to resign their contracts, and there are 3 more players very close to doing the same thing until Tuesday, when the transfer market closes. And all of these problems and uncertainties are reflected in the players' performances, who after a solid away win in the first round, got just one more point in the next 3 matches, being on 2 consecutive losses (being almost trashed by Perez Zeledon mid-week). Cartagines is an OK team, usually mid-level in Costa Rica, but can also surprise the big guys from time to time. They haven't enjoyed the best start, despite losing just one game from 4, they have also managed to win just 1, so they need continuity in results and a boost in points. They have already managed to beat Brujas two months ago, in the play-offs, so I don't see why they couldn't do it again, especially since Brujas are knee-deep in heavy problems. GL!

Cartagines (-0.75 AH) @ 1.88, 5/10

Result: 1-1, LOST

Deportivo Saprissa - San Carlos

Costa Rica Primera Division, Verano

Saprissa needs to make a strong start in this Torneo de Verano of the first league, if they want people to forget the shameful performance from last competition. They are the best team, overall, from Costa Rica, and last competition's 11th place certainly does not give them any favors. They could have the excuse that they were also playing in the Champions League, but even so, their finishing position was the poorest in quite a while, so they'll have to impress this season. And me, personally, I consider them title favorites. Meanwhile, San Carlos pretty much has the same squad as in 2010, with which they managed to reach the final of Torneo Invierno, and the quarter-finals of Torneo Verano, after being close to relegation at the end of 2009. They opted for continuity, but this could seriously backfire on them, as they made only a few transfers. And for today's game, they have more than half the team unavailable: defenders Arriola and Mora, as well as midfielder Montoya are all suspended, while midfielder Gustavo Perez, offensive midfielder Russell and striker Kenneth Vargas. 6 players, and all of them are important pieces of San Carlos's puzzle. So, with so many absences for the visitors, as well as a traditionally poor record on the road (especially at Saprissa, where they won 1 and drew 1 in 16 matches, played over the last 10 years), plus the positive reaction that I expect from Saprissa, this should most likely go down as a clear victory for El Monstruo Morado. GL!

Deportivo Saprissa (-0.75) @ 1.73, 5/10

Result: 3-0, WON