Hi all! This weekend we will watch a great match from New Zealand, a boiling national and political rivalry in Israel and an opening encounter in Nicaragua.
(All the hours are in CET)
Amateur (Like these misses)
What? Team Wellington – Auckland City (New Zealand Football Championship)
When? Sunday, 02:00
Where? David Farrington Park, Wellington
Why? Being ranked 1st, Auckland City wants to win the league once again. Team Wellington are in 3rd place, just three points less than the leaders. They will host Auckland and will try to get closer to their first ever title.
Key Players: Ben Harris, Team Wellington’s striker, played last season in the English non-league side Hampton & Richmond Borough and now he is the top scorer of the New Zealand league. Auckland City has Ryan De Vries, a 24 year old player that already has 6 league titles, winning them consecutively since 2010.
The Champion of Champions: Ramon Tribulietx, the Spanish manager of Auckland City, holds the world record for most continental titles – 5 OFC Champions League titles.
Professional (like this guy)
What? Beitar Jerusalem – Bnei Sakhnin (Israeli Ligat Ha'al)
When? Monday, 19:50
Where? Hamoshava Stadum, Petah Tikva
Why? One of the hardest national and political rivalries in the world of football will be played Monday in a neutral pitch, since the Jerusalemites are suffering a ban for hosting home games, due to their fans’ behavior. Beitar Jerusalem, recognized with the right-wing camp in Israel, will play against Bnei Sakhnin, the biggest Israeli-Arab club in the country, whose fans often identify with the Palestinian national cause. Beitar are ranked in 3rd place, aiming for a Europa League spot, while Bnei Sakhnin is in 11th place, just one point above the relegation zone.
Key Players: Beitar's Omer Atzili is one of the hot prospects in Israeli football at the moment, starring at the top tier and the Israeli U21 national team. Weaam Amasha will be the guy to watch in Sakhnin as he is the leading scorer of the club with 6 goals.
Red and Yellow: Khaled Khalaila, Bnei Sakhnin’s captain, is known to be one of the most aggressive players in Israel. He topped the league’s yellow card table for four seasons, including one record breaking season with 17 yellow cards.
World Class (like this goal)
What? UNAN Managua – Managua FC (Nicaraguan Primera División)
When? Sunday, 02:00
Where? Estadio Olímpico del IND Managua, Managua
Why? The opening matchday of the Clausura will gather reigning champions UNAN Managua with their city rivals, Managua FC, who had a bad Apertura campaign. Derby time!
Key Players: Jonathan Donado was one of the leading players for UNAN Managua during the title journey, scoring 10 goals, three of them in the playoffs. If you are looking for Nicaraguan football’s next generation, look at Kevin Serapio of Managua FC, a 19 year old midfielder that plays for the U20 national team.
Ladies First: UNAN Managua won their first ever title in the previous Apertura, but the women's team is the strongest team in the country, with 11 championships.