Colombia league leaders Millonarios aim to blow away any potential cobwebs as the Colombian Primera A begins again this weekend following a lengthy international break.
The Bogota giants stand on the top of the Postobon II-2012, two points ahead of Junior, and face six-placed Itagui at the Estadio El Campín on Saturday in the eighth round of matches.
Manager Hernan Torres hopes his players, whether they were involved with their country or not, are fully switched on when the league re starts so they can maintain their fine form this season.
Torres, whose side are yet to taste defeat in the league, told Futbolred: “Suddenly, the computer may be affected mentally by the break, but the players have to prove they were not affected.”
For Torres the clash with Itagui holds a little extra spice as this was the club he left earlier in the year, nevertheless he insists his relationship with the ‘Golden Eagles’ is still good.
“I am grateful for the people at Itagui, they treated me well, I have the best memories of the people there, but they want to win as well,” he added.
Elsewhere Independiente Medellin could surge up the table with a win against 11th placed Once Caldas, provided other results also go in its favour.
Medellin manager Hernan Dario Gomez would have been itching to get his team back on the pitch as soon as possible after a disastrous 3-0 defeat to arch rivals Atletico Nacional before the international break.
Gomez, however, will have to do without a host of first team players when they line up against Once Caldas. William Zapata is suspended after pushing the referee in the defeat to National, while Luis Tipton Jefferson Cuero (injury), defender Daniel Bocanegra and midfielder Diego Herner (both suspended) are among the other absentees.
Elsewhere Nacional themselves will look to make it three league wins out of four when they entertain high-flying Deportes Quindo on Sunday.
Nacional will leap-frog their opponents with a win in Medellin.
In other notable matches Barranquilla-based team Junior travel to Boyaca Chico knowing that a victory could send them to the summit, provided Millonarios are defeated.
Third-placed Cucuta Deportivo travel to Real Cartagena on Sunday aiming to make it two league wins on the bounce after a 4-1 victory over Once Caldas last time out.
