League minnows Itagui top the Liga Postobon going into this weekend’s fixtures following a controversial decision to award them three points for a 1-0 loss to Medellin in August. The points were awarded to Itagui after a disciplinary commission upheld their complaint that their local rivals had fielded an illegible player in Luis Fernando Mosquera. To hang on to the top spot, Itagui will have to beat Tolima, who are just one point behind after edging past lowly Cartagena last weekend.
Medellin, who also have to pay a $3,000 fine over the Mosquera affair, have now dropped into the bottom three after the points deduction. They have the chance to move back up the table when they meet bottom club La Equidad at home.
Itagui currently share top spot with Quindio, who turned around a disappointing run of form with a 3-0 demolition of ten-men Millonarios last weekend. Quindio will be feeling confident they can hang on to first place, facing what should be a straight forward trip to Cartagena, who have won only one out of their last nine games.
The top two are currently looking over their shoulders at five teams who are one point behind on 17 points. In third spot, Nacional will be looking to bounce back following a disappointing last week in which they crashed out of the Copa Colombia before having to settle for a draw in the league after a last minute goal from Chico evened the score when Nacional looked to have the points in the bag. Nacional will face Cali, who are currently joint 8th.
Also on 17 points are America de Cali, Chico and Junior. High-flying America de Cali will be hoping to make it five wins in a row away to Once Caldas, while Chico will want to make up for their 1-0 defeat to Millionarios in the first leg of the Copa Colombia final on Wednesday by beating Envigado. Junior are to take on Huila, who are slipping away from the pack in 14th place with 14 points.
Envigado and Cali are currently sharing the crucial 8th spot with Santa Fe and Pereira and all four will be keen to put space between them and their rivals as the race to make it into the second part of the season heats up. Santa Fe have the easier fixture on paper, with a trip to second bottom Cucuta, while Pereira face Millionarios, who will be feeling confident after their midweek cup victory and looking to fight their way back into the reckoning for 8th position.
