25 Apr 2009
By Caracas FC Press

Caracas FC face stiff competition tonight at the Brigido Iriarte Stadium in the capital when they take on UA Maracaibo in the 14th round of the Clausura tournament in a 6pm kick off.

Maracaibo have long been one of the better teams in the Venezuelan first division despite this season finding themselves in 11th place in the table.

Caracas need to win to maintain their challenge for the title knowing that Deportivo Tachira lead the way by one point after 13 rounds.

Maracaibo will be without Henry Palomino who is suspended following two yellow cards and a consequent sending off in the team’s last match against city rivals Zulia FC in a game Maracaibo lost 2-1.

The Avila Reds last time out meanwhile were held 0-0 at the Olympic Stadium by Dvo. Italia in a dour struggle which saw Tachira leapfrog the nine-times Venezuelan champions and take over top spot with four games to play in the Clausura.

Next up in the league for Caracas FC will be a visit to Monagas but before that is the important trip to Buenos Aires to face Lanus in a Group Six Copa Santander Libertadores clash.

The Reds have already qualified for the next phase of this the 50th anniversary edition of the South American equivalent of the Champions League, but a win for the Venezuelans will mean they top the group above either Everton of Chile or Chivas of Guadalajara who also meet next week to decide the other group qualifier.

But first it’s Maracaibo tonight at the re-arranged venue of the Brigido Iriarte due to the poor state of the Olympic Stadium pitch.