Round nine in the Colombian Liga Postobon features two high profile derbies with Santa Fe taking on Millonarios while Deportivo Cali host arch rivals America.
On Saturday, Bogota’s red faces Bogota’s blue as Santa Fe and Millonarios battle for their pride in what is always a special game in the capital city.
For Santa Fe, the match matters even more as ‘the Cardinals’ are in sixth place with still every chance to qualify for the next round, after having won both of their least three league games. Millonarios are in penultimate place and do not seem to be contenders for the title this season.
Matches between these two teams can always go either way. Last time they met it went neither way, with a 1-1 result in October 2009.
Another top clash takes place later at night as the coastal teams, second-placed Junior and leaders Real Cartagena, face each other in Barranquilla.
Junior are exactly three points behind Cartagena, and a win on Saturday would close the gap to the top. Cartagena however, are yet to suffer a defeat this season.
Junior are generally the better side in these encounters, having beaten Cartagena three times in the last six matches. The other three ended undecided. However, Cartagena is a whole different team this season and will certainly give Junior a hard time.
The big clash on Sunday has Deportivo Cali and America de Cali face off at Pascual Guerrero stadium. Here it concerns two teams whose seasons have not been particularly satisfying, and both desperately need a win in order to save what can be saved.
Deportivo will want to take revenge for the 3-1 defeat suffered when the two rivals last met in September 2009.
Full schedule
Saturday:
Atletico Huila – Deportes Tolima
Santa Fe – Millonarios
Junior – Real Cartagena
Sunday:
Deportes Quindio – Cortulua
Cucuta Deportivo – Envigado
Once Caldas – Deportivo Pereira
Boyaca Chico – La Equidad
Deportivo Cali – America de Cali