Nacional vs Defensor Sporting

Nacional heads into this Primera Division clash confident after knocking off rivals Peñarol in the derby, a result that trimmed the gap to the top of the annual table to six points. Defensor Sporting, further back in the standings, need points to stay in the mix and see this trip as a chance to prove themselves against one of Uruguayan football's traditional powers. Nacional's derby win came via a stunning corner-kick backheel from Francisco Calvo, set up by Gastón Martirena, snapping Peñarol's unbeaten run. Defensor Sporting have been streakier, alternating losses to Liverpool and Montevideo Wanderers with a draw at Cerro Largo before edging Deportivo Maldonado 1-0 on a late strike from top scorer Brian Montenegro. History favors the home side: Nacional have won 170 of 310 all-time meetings with Defensor Sporting and remain unbeaten in the last eleven head-to-head clashes, with 2-1 the most repeated scoreline. Our prediction: 2-1