Municipal took a considerable lead in the final of the Clausura 2026 tournament, after beating Xelajú 4-1 in the first leg. The result allows the reds to keep intact the desire to celebrate the 33rd title of Guatemalan football, which would be the icing on the cake, since the scarlet team celebrates 90 years of history in May.
The Reds did not miss the opportunity to hit forcefully at the Manuel Felipe Carrera stadium, after Xelajú ended up with 10 players due to the expulsion of Jorge Aparicio in the 66th minute.
Until that moment, the score was tied 1-1, but referee Wálter López decided to show him the second yellow card, which left the superchido team decimated.
Three goal difference
Municipal will arrive at the second leg at the Mario Camposeco stadium, on Saturday, May 23, with a difference that could be decisive.
If the result holds, the Scarlets would have the opportunity to celebrate the 33rd Guatemalan soccer title and become the team with the most national championships. Communications would be left with 32 crowns.
Furthermore, the Reds want to get rid of the pain of having lost two consecutive finals, both against Antigua GFC, which continues as monarch to this day.
The Reds fell in the Apertura 2025 by an aggregate result of 2-1, while in the Clausura 2025 the score was 2-0 in favor of the Antigueño team.
For the comeback
The goats are obliged to score three goals if they want to even the series and stay in the fight for the title.
The task does not look easy for Xelajú; However, in previous finals they have achieved the feat of coming back.
In the finals of Apertura 2024 and Clausura 2023 they came with adverse results of 2-0 against Cobán Imperial and Antigua GFC, respectively, but in both cases they managed to reverse the score with 3-2 aggregates, which in the end allowed them to celebrate at home.
The last final of these teams
The most recent final between these two teams occurred in the 2012 Clausura tournament.
On that occasion, Xelajú MC managed to win the second leg 2-1 and sent the match against Municipal to extra time, with the overall tie being 2-2.
In extra time the result did not change and the title of the 2012 Clausura Tournament had to be decided from the penalty spot.
In the penalties,
The goats will now seek to come back and get the eighth moon.