Colombia’s 2012 soccer season will commence on Friday 27 January, with Patriotas de Boyaca playing their first ever game in the top division.
Patriotas host Deportes Tolima at Estadio La Independiencia, having last month won a play-off against 13-times-champions America de Cali, who were relegated for the first time in their history.
Current champions Junior de Barranquilla begin their title defense on Sunday, at home to Deportes Quindio, whose good mid-season form dropped off markedly towards the end of 2011.
The pick of the weekend fixtures is Sunday evening’s match-up between giants Atletico Nacional and Deportivo Cali, who will both be seeking improvement on last year after missing out on the play-offs.
The full fixture list is as follows:
8pm: Patriotas – Tolima
3.30pm: Envigado – Cucuta
6.10pm: Pasto – Medellin
8pm: Once Caldas – Real Cartagena
3.30pm: Junior – Quindio, Huila – Chico, Equidad – Itagui
5.30pm: Santa Fe – Millionarios
7.45pm: Nacional – Cali