QUETZALTENANGO (Interstat) — Xelaju will host Municipal on Saturday at Estadio Mario Camposeco in Quetzaltenango, with both clubs looking to strengthen their position across all competitions.

Municipal enters the match with a 7-2-3 record, while Xelaju is 6-4-3. The visitors have shown steady form and will lean on Pedro Altan, who scored in a recent 2-1 loss at Coban Imperial. Altan played 44 minutes in that match. He also appeared for 26 minutes against Marquense and 34 minutes at Antigua. Kenderson Navarro and Aubrey David each played the full 90 minutes in Municipal’s most recent result, a 2-1 loss at Coban Imperial.

Xelaju counters with Juan Cardona, who has been productive in recent outings. Cardona played 90 minutes and scored in a 2-1 win over Malacateco. He also went the full match at Aurora F.C. and scored in a 2-0 win over Deportivo San Pedro. Cardona has scored in two of his last three appearances and has played the full 90 minutes in each. E. Quezada Gamez H. scored in the Malacateco win, and goalkeeper Dario Silva played 90 minutes. Navarro and David have been steady for Municipal, and Silva has anchored Xelaju’s back line. Altan has provided scoring punch off the bench for Municipal, while Cardona has delivered consistent minutes for Xelaju.

The most recent head-to-head meeting ended in a 2-0 Municipal victory. Xelaju will seek a better result at home, where it has produced several strong performances this season.

Municipal’s recent schedule has included a 0-0 draw with Coban, a 1-1 draw with Marquense and a 1-1 draw at Antigua. Earlier, Municipal beat Suchitepequez 3-0, drew 2-2 with Malacateco, won 2-1 at Aurora F.C., edged Comunicaciones 1-0 and defeated Xelaju 2-0. Municipal’s other results include a 1-0 loss at Guastatoya and a 2-0 home win over Coban.

Xelaju’s recent results include a 2-1 home win over Malacateco, a 2-1 loss at Aurora F.C., a 2-0 home win over Deportivo San Pedro, a 3-2 home loss to Comunicaciones, a 4-0 home win over Antigua, a 2-2 draw at Suchitepequez, a 2-1 loss at Guastatoya, a 0-0 draw with Coban, a 4-0 win at Marquense, a 4-1 home win over Deportivo Mixco, and a 2-0 loss at Municipal.

Municipal’s next matches include Guastatoya, Comunicaciones, Aurora F.C., Malacateco, Antigua and Suchitepequez. Xelaju’s upcoming opponents include Antigua, Deportivo Mixco, Marquense, Coban, Guastatoya and Suchitepequez. The game is part of the Guatemalan Liga Nacional schedule.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Xelaju 1, Municipal 1. Interstat’s ELO system gives Xelaju a 50.3 percent probability to win.