Fernando De La Mora vs Deportivo Santani

** <h2>Relegation Battle Awaits at Estadio Emilio Ghezzi</h2> <p>Thursday's Paraguay Division Intermedia clash between <strong>Fernando De La Mora and Deportivo Santaní</strong> represents far more than a mid-table encounter. With both sides locked on 16 points in 15th and 16th position respectively, this fixture carries genuine relegation implications that could define both teams' seasonal trajectories.</p> <h3>Home Fortress Meets Away Day Nightmare</h3> <p>The statistical narrative surrounding this fixture reads like a textbook study in contrasting venue performance. Fernando De La Mora have transformed their home ground into a genuine fortress, collecting an impressive <strong>81% of their season points from home fixtures</strong> while averaging 1.44 points per game at Estadio Emilio Ghezzi. Their recent 3-2 victory over S. Carapegua ended an agonizing 11-match winless streak and injected crucial confidence into a squad that had been questioning its ability to compete.</p> <p>In stark contrast, Deportivo Santaní's away form tells a story of systematic failure. With just <strong>one victory in nine away fixtures</strong> and a horrific defensive record of 18 goals conceded on the road, they approach Thursday's encounter knowing that their season may hinge on finding solutions to problems that have plagued them throughout the campaign.</p> <h3>Tactical Patterns and Key Battles</h3> <p>The match will likely be decided by Fernando's ability to capitalize on their early goal threat - they average scoring their first goal after just 25 minutes at home - against Deportivo's tendency to start matches poorly away from home. However, the most intriguing tactical battleground exists in the final 15 minutes, where <strong>Deportivo have conceded 11 goals while scoring just once</strong> in away fixtures this season.</p> <p>Fernando's experienced core, led by 37-year-old striker <strong>Arnaldo Zárate</strong> and 34-year-old midfielder <strong>Aldo Quiñónez</strong>, will look to exploit this late-game vulnerability. The hosts' recent form suggests improved attacking fluency, with their last eight matches producing 28% more goals than their season average.</p> <h3>Deportivo's Psychological Fragility</h3> <p>Perhaps most concerning for the visitors is their demonstrated inability to respond to adversity. When conceding first in away fixtures, Deportivo have managed just <strong>0.10 points per game</strong> - a statistic that borders on catastrophic in professional football. This mental fragility, combined with their poor equalizing rate of just 17%, suggests that Fernando's early goal threat could prove decisive.</p> <p>The presence of Colombian midfielder <strong>Gustavo Cañizales</strong> provides some creative stability for Deportivo, but individual quality has been consistently undermined by collective defensive failures, particularly in transition moments during the second half.</p> <h3>Weather and Conditions</h3> <p>Thursday's mild Paraguayan winter conditions (16-23°C) should provide an ideal environment for open, attacking football. With little chance of rain and partly cloudy skies, neither side can use external factors as mitigation for poor performance.</p> <h3>The Bigger Picture</h3> <p>This fixture arrives at a crucial juncture for both clubs. Fernando's recent victory provided temporary respite from relegation concerns, but consistency remains elusive. For Deportivo, the mathematical reality is stark: continued poor away form could see them detached from safety before the season reaches its climax.</p> <p>The head-to-head record slightly favors Deportivo historically, but recent encounters have been closely contested affairs. In their last meeting on May 11, 2025, Deportivo secured a 2-0 away victory with goals from D. Alegre and Jose Ayala - a result that now appears increasingly anomalous given their subsequent away form deterioration.</p> <p>With both teams understanding the stakes and Fernando possessing clear statistical advantages in the venue-specific battle, Thursday's encounter promises to deliver the drama and intensity that relegation battles invariably produce. The question is whether Deportivo can finally solve their away day demons or if Fernando's home fortress will claim another victim in their fight for Division Intermedia survival.</p>