Nationwide strikes have resulted in 5 matches being pushed to different dates, the most important being the one between league-leaders Santa Fe and Tolima, which will now be played on October 12th. The pick of this weekend’s action features a potential drubbing in Bogota, a top-of-the-table clash on the Caribbean coast, a relegation dogfight, and a mid-table tie played in an empty stadium.
Saturday, August 31st
5:30pm
Millonarios vs. Huila
The only game on Saturday should be a straightforward win for Millonarios, playing at home against Huila. The “Blues” from Bogota have won three games on the trot, scoring 8 goals without conceeding, while Huila are lounging 14th in the league and have lost more ground in the fight against relegation after just one win from 7 games.
Still, it took Millonarios until the 91st minute to overcome lowly Cucuta on Wednesday, a game in which striker Wason Renteria saw red, meaning that he’ll miss Saturday’s tie. As long as his partner up front, Daryon Moreno, keeps on banging in the goals – he’s got 5 so far this season – then Millonarios should keep up their winning streak.
Sunday, September 1st
5:30pm
Junior vs. Nacional
The pick of the matches on Sunday sees 2nd-placed Nacional travel to Barranquilla to face 3rd-placed Junior; the two teams only separated by goal difference. Junior lost 3-0 to league leaders Santa Fe on Wednesday despite controlling the game in the second half, and will have a tough task to overcome defending-champions Nacional, who have only dropped 2 points so far.
The winner will push Santa Fe out of top spot, for the moment at least – their game with Tolima has been postponed due to the national strike.
3:15pm
Patriotas vs. Quindio
For a relegation dogfight head to strike-ridden Tunja, Boyaca, to see if Quindio can actually score a goal – they’ve managed just 2 in 6 games. Patriotas, playing at home, hope to secure 3 points and climb further away from the relegation zone – they currently sit 14th in the relegation league, 4 spots from the bottom.
If they do win then Quindio’s disastrous season would hit new lows with the possibilty of their replacing Cucuta at the bottom of the relegation league, depending on whether or not Cucuta can get a result away at Equidad on Monday evening (6pm). Cucuta’s only win this season came at Quindio’s expense, although the win was not down to footballing superiority – the match was abandoned after Quindio’s fans invaded the pitch. The Disciplinary Comission awarded Cucuta a 3-0 win.
3:15pm
Medellin vs. Pasto
Independiente Medellin will hope to return to winning ways against Pasto after losing at home for the second time in a row last Sunday against Once Caldas. That game was played in front of an empty homestand, the “Poderoso” fans paying the price for fighting with the police in their previous home game against Allianz Petroleo. The next 3 games will be similarly quiet. Giovanny Soto, Medellin’s languid playmaker, will hope to get the better of a Pasto midfield that was overrun in their last game against Millionarios, a 4-0 drubbing.