Nacional began the Clausura with two draws (1-1 with Rentistas and 0-0 with Cerro Largo) and a poor sports performance, with low individual performances that attract attention. Without having won the Apertura (he lost the final against Rentistas), the tricolor clings to obtaining the Clausura or the Annual Table to define the Uruguayan Championship and aspire to the bicampeonato. Despite the four lost points, he continues to lead the Annual with a six advantage over the second (now City Torque), just like when the Clausura started. A situation that has different readings.
Of the last 10 official games, Nacional won only one in the 90 minutes, against Boston River. Then he lost four and tied five. In that period he scored six goals and received 14.
The goals were scored by Santiago Rodríguez (2), Ayrton Cougo –these two players are no longer at the club–, Gabriel Neves, Emiliano Villar and Armando Méndez.
The photos of the table
At the end of the Intermediate Tournament, which Jorge Giordano’s team won after defeating Wanderers in the final, the main positions in the Annual Table were as follows:
National, 43
Rentistas, 37
Peñarol, 36
Wanderes, 34
City Torque, 35
Cerro Largo, 34
The tricolor difference on the reds of Cerrito was six units and on Peñarol, which is always a point of reference, it was seven. A nice distance to maintain and ensure the Annual. Especially after the setback of the aurinegro, who began the Clausura by drawing against Cerro. But, the next day, Nacional also tied.
Played two dates of the Clausura and with games still to be played, the current photo of the global table is as follows:
National, 45
City Torque, 39
Rentistas, 38*
Cerro Largo, 38
Wanderers, 38
Peñarol, 37 *
* One game less.
Seen like this, Nacional maintains the difference of six points over the second, which in this case is City Torque, a team that has had a great start in the Clausura.
But the situation may change if Rentistas wins this Boston River (they play this Friday at 5:30 p.m.) and Peñarol does the same against Defensor Sporting, a match initially postponed to Wednesday, January 27 due to the cases of covid-19 that the aurinegro suffers. In that case, Rentistas would reduce the difference to four points and Peñarol to five.
The Table, after the second date, can be as follows:
National, 45
Rentistas, 41
Peñarol, 40
City Torque, 39
Cerro Largo, 38
Wanderers, 38
Tall grass
In any case, Nacional maintains the leadership and the leaders rely on that to continue supporting the work of the coaching staff headed by Giordano and who now has Álvaro Recoba as an assistant.
Gonzalo Lucas, one of the leaders who attended Melo on Wednesday for Nacional’s game against Cerro Largo, said that the poor condition of the Ubilla stadium court was partly responsible for the team’s poor performance. “The length of the grass had an influence, it is something we are not used to and they are. It was a very ugly game in general, and within that, it was not played well, “he told Referee.
@National
Beyond the speculations that can be made with the positions, what worries is the sports performance. On Wednesday Nacional did not generate goal situations and only once (a header from Bergessio after a free kick) did he finish off the goal.
No football and no goal
Full-backs Armando Méndez and Agustín Oliveros offer no guarantees when defending and neither are they an important contribution offensively.
Gabriel Neves returned to midfield after serving the penalty, but far from his level, even in still ball shots: he executed three corner kicks that did not reach the penalty spot.
They also did not have an acceptable level Brian Ocampo and Pablo García for the ends. Ocampo a little better, but without continuity and ending the plays badly. Garcia was too glimpsed.
Inés Guimaraens
This is detrimental to the performance of Gonzalo Bergessio, who has not scored a goal for nine games. The forward plays confused because the ball does not reach him well played, but also, he is not fine with the ball either.
Until November 12, Bergessio had scored 17 goals, since then Danubio, Independiente del Valle (2), Argentine River (2), Peñarol, Wanderers, Rentistas and Cerro Largo have passed without converting.
The youth of the squad and the casualties he had at the end of the year mean that there are no weight variations on the bench and that is felt in the course of the meetings.
Movement of the fans
The confusion of the team causes the discomfort of the fans, which has lasted since the leaders decided not to renew the contracts of Gonzalo Castro and Sebastián Fernández, among others.
They made a move on social networks for the board to change the position it took with Castro, one of the team’s figures last year, but it was not possible.
Now they are requesting the removal of the coach and for that reason they are making a call to meet on Saturday at the headquarters and make people feel discontent. In this regard, Lucas said: “The only way to get ahead is all together and moving forward. This is the team we have and we have to trust.”
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