No goalkeeper in Liga FUTVE has a higher @InStatFootball Index Rating than Lima (225), nor is their one who has made more saves (40) or supersaves (12). Despite only 1 clean sheet, Atletico are now unbeaten in 5 and Lima’s been pivotal.
Key to Monagas’ wingback utilising formation, Páez started the month on the right and ended it on the left, due to Oscar González’s positive PCR test result. He flourished on both sides, notching up 1 goal and 2 assists from defence.
The rapid left back spent June – and May, really - bombing down the wing and delivering succulent crosses for the Metro frontline. A consistent performer in an inconsistent team. The league’s in-form player of his position with 5 assists.
The Aurinegro kept clean sheets in two of their four June games and the Argentine was vital in their defensive showings:
⛔️22 interceptions
❌28 challenges won (55%)
⚔️24 recoveries
The youngster has steadied a defence new to the top flight last season and already under new management this season. Two 1-1 draws and a 1-0 doesn’t set the world alight, but is a nod to their increasingly tightening defence.
With an overall success rate of 77% - 80% for passing and 64% for tackling - Contreras is what you want from a defensive midfielder in a team re-establishing itself. June may have been winless for Carabobo but Contreras impressed.
The talismanic captain may have kicked a ball for the last time this season due to injury but if it is the case he’s ended on a high. Set piece deliveries caused havoc for opponents all month:
👟3 assists
⚽️3 goals
🪄6 chances created
The league’s top scorer isn’t s veteran striker nor the latest talented import, instead its a maverick #10 who plays as if he’s still on the playground. Watch him if you get the chance. His dribbling is exquisite and he shone in June.
Liga FUTVE and its fans should not forget nor disregard this man’s story. Two years ago he was playing amateur football in Medellin, turning out for three or four teams a weekend to make ends meet. Now he’s a star turn in Barinas.
Four games, five goals, one assist, and our Player of the Month. Monagas are a team transformed this season and June saw them surge to the top of the group, second only on goals scored, thanks to this man’s efforts.
The surprise team of the season keep surprising. They remain the only unbeaten side in the league & 4 Osorio goals in June are largely to thank. He’s only ever once had a better season return and that was in 2011/12 (8). He’s already on 6.
He is quietly staking an early claim for Manager of the Year. His 5-3-2 is producing wonderfully exciting football at times and his varied deployment of Albert Zambrano has been masterful. Ferreira excelled over his peers this month.
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💫The FUTVE English 30: Our Top 30 Young Venezuelans for 2024💫
From the Champions League to budding brilliance in Brazil, here are our 30 starlets of Venezuelan football!
Criteria: born 01/01/2000 onwards and must have made their first team debut. We made one exception! 🙈⬇️
✒️ David Martinez (2006|AM)
👕 Monagas
⚽️ Liga FUTVE 🇻🇪
18 next month, it’s only a matter of time before Venezuela’s wonderkid gets a big move.
It was long thought Ajax was an all-but-done deal but he’s back on the market and surely still destined for a European move this year.
✒️ Kevin Kelsy (2004|ST)
👕 Shakhtar Donetsk
⚽️ Premier Liga 🇺🇦
His debut year in Europe ended with 9 goals and 3 assists in just 1065 minutes (1 g/a per 89’). He scored in the league, Champions League, and Europa League. The 193cm striker could be Rondon’s heir in waiting.
In 1970, Chelsea FC became the first – and to date only – professional English club to play in Venezuela.
They arrived just 4 days after lifting their first FA Cup, a 2-1 win over Leeds United in the replayed final at Old Trafford. Here’s the story.
🧵Thread Begins:
As stated on chelseafc.com, the team were in the Venezuelan capital for a “celebratory post-season tour”, which also included Barbados. The Blues were set to face Vitoria Setubal (🇵🇹) and Santos (🇧🇷) in the Torneo Gran Ciudad de Caracas, hosted at El Olímpico de la UCV.
With the tournament’s first game just 24 days before the start of the World Cup in Mexico, Santos were to play without their main attraction: Pelé.
It was a loss to Chelsea, but Pelé’s Santos had already played in Caracas in ‘59’ & ‘66, and he would return in ‘77 with NY Cosmos.
It’s an all capital affair as Metro host Caracas as both sides look to continue their strong seasons.
Caracas are looking for their second win, led by Akinyoola, while Metro could go third, one point off Táchira and La Guaira, with a win.
4’: GOOOOOOOOL! 🟣
Carlos Sosa opens the scoring with a bombastic long range strike! He outsmarts Baroja and finds the far corner to make it 1-0 to Metro. #FutVe
HT: An early Metro goal is all we get for the first half of today’s match in Caracas. Los rojos have chased an equalizer but it’s Metropolitanos that look the most in control.
Since 2020, the two sides have an even 2-2-2 record against each other. #FutVe
Lara started the month closer to relegation than Libertadores qualification. Two clean sheets and an unbeaten September has changed that entirely. Throughout, Curiel was superb, particularly against Carabobo and Aragua. #futve 2/13
Unbeaten in September (WDWD) with a goal and clean sheet to his name, the right back has been a key figure in the Barinas’ club ultra attacking and vertical football. He impressed strongly against Estudiantes and Zamora. #futve 3/13
It’s a battle for Barinas as Hermanos host Zamora with a 4th place finish and #Sudamericana football on the line.
A win or draw keeps Hermanos in 4th, but Zamora could leap into Hexagonal B contention with a win. #FutVe
7': No early goals as a greatly important match up takes place in Barinas tonight. A result for the home side could prove a huge moment for the newly promoted club. 0-0. #FutVe
15': GOOOOOOOOOOL! ⚽️
Richard Figueroa sneaks around the Hermanos' backline and taps in the opener to give Zamora the lead!
Zamora take 4th place, for now, and Hermanos are left with a lot on the line. 1-0. #FutVe