Portuguese RJ and Nova Iguaçu measure forces in Estadio Luso ‑ Brasileiro, in a match for the 4th round of Carioca 1. The history of recent direct confrontations is favorable to the home team, which records 1 victory and 3 draws in the last 4 matches. The last direct confrontation between these two teams, on 07‑03-2018, ended with the victory of the Portuguese RJ by (2‑1). In this match the home factor may be decisive, since both teams have considerable differences in the results won at home and as a visitor.
Portuguese RJ :
The home team is currently in the 1st position, with 7 points won, after 2 wins and 1 draw. In the penultimate match, he won out against Friborg by (0-2). In the last game, he tied out against América RJ by (1‑1). This is a stronger team with the support of his fans, since in the last 30 games he has 3 wins, 3 draws and 9 losses as a visitor; against 7 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses in his stadium. In the last 10 games played at home for all competitions, the Portuguese RJ won 6, drew 2 and lost 2. His defense has been very solid, since he only suffered goals in 3 of the last 10 matches, and his attack has marked regularly, as he scored goals in 7 of the last 10 games.
The club stands firm in the leadership of the competition, with 7 points in 3 games, which puts the team very close to securing one of the places for the next phase of the championship. Striker Sorisso continues in a great phase and is the second best gunner in the competition, with 2 goals scored. Coach Rogério Correa knows that a victory in this game with the support of his fans becomes fundamental to the team’s pretensions in the Carioca Championship and can ensure his classification in advance.
Nova Iguaçu:
The visiting team is currently in 5th position, with 3 points won, after 1 win and 2 losses. In the penultimate match, he lost out against Macaé by (2‑0). In the last game, he lost at home against the American by (1-2). This is a stronger team with the support of his fans, since in the last 30 matches he has recorded 2 wins, 2 draws and 11 losses as a visitor; against 6 wins, 1 draw and 8 losses in his stadium. In the last 10 matches played as a visitor for all competitions, Nova Iguaçu won 2, drew 1 and lost 7. His attack has scored regularly, as he scored goals in 7 of the last 10 games. In 14 games, he never got the comeback in the 6 games in which he suffered the first goal. There is 1 period that stands out in the last 8 away matches for all competitions: they suffered 3 of their 7 goals between minutes (0′-15 ‘).
The club comes to this game treating the game as life or death within the competition, because if you still want to dream about the classification you will have to beat the group leader and still wait for some combinations of results that can favor the search for one of the places of access to the next phase in the last round. The team comes from two defeats in a row, one against the Macae out of their domains by 2×0 and another with the American at home by 1×2. Coach Kal will have to work hard to get enough motivation for players to continue to believe in a possible classification.
