HAVANA (Interstat) — Unbeaten Villa Clara will look to continue its strong start to the Cuban Primera Division season when it hosts a struggling Las Tunas side on Friday.

The match at Estadio Augusto César Sandino pits the league’s top team against one seeking to rebound from a heavy defeat.

Villa Clara sits atop the table with a 3-0-2 league record (3-0-2 overall), showcasing a formidable defense that has conceded just four goals in five domestic matches. They are coming off a 1-1 draw with Guantanamo on Wednesday.

In contrast, Las Tunas (1-0-1 in league, 1-0-1 overall) is reeling from a 3-0 home loss to Cienfuegos in its last outing. Their season has been marked by inconsistency, with recent results including both a 4-0 loss and a 4-0 victory.

Statistical models heavily favor the hosts. Interstat’s ELO system gives Villa Clara a 79.50 percent probability to win, while its game simulator projects a 2-1 victory for the home side.

The matchup will test Las Tunas’s ability to recover against a disciplined Villa Clara squad that has proven difficult to break down.