With only three rounds left and only 4 of the 12 teams qualifying for the playoffs, the local tourney is finally entering an exciting phase.  Saturday’s and Sunday’s matches will determine who will continue to have a shot at facing Saprissa in an eventual final and who will say goodbye until August.

Group A is a clearer panorama, as Saprissa and Puntarenas have the group practically wrapped up with 30 points each.  Liberia still has an outside shot if they win their last 3 games, one of which is Sunday against Saprissa. They would still need a Saprissa tie or loss in the last rounds. Puntarenas can clinch on Sunday with a win over an already eliminated Heredia.

Also in Group A is the battle to see who will be demoted to the second division. San Ramon barely avoided demotion last year, and currently has only very slim hopes of catching Carmelita.  If Carmelita can win or tie Cartago on Sunday they will eliminate San Ramon from the top category. San Ramon not only needs help from Carmelita, they also must win their remaining games.
Group B is wide open, with all 6 teams still in the hunt for a playoff spot and all the teams in the group playing each other the next 3 weeks.  Only five points separate the leader Perez Zeledon from the last team Santos, so teams winning this week be in good positions for the final two weeks.   Perez plays Brujas and could effectively clinch a playoff spot with a win and favorable results in the other matches.   Alajuela is second with 17 points and will play Santos.  A win by La Liga would not clinch a spot mathematically, but would keep them in first or second place in the group and in control of their own destiny. Santos must win as they are at least one point behind everyone. Cartago and Carmelita both must win to stay in contention and a tie could leave them both on the outside looking in.

Another factor facing Alajuela and Saprissa is fatigue.  Both teams play on Sunday for the local championship and