Week ten of the Liga Postobon brings all of the top eight teams together, offering a potential shakeup and providing form-team Independiente Medellin the opportunity to continue their recent rise.
The weekend kicks off Friday with Medellin’s visit to the Caribbean coast, where they face Real Cartagena (14th), who have not won at home since February 5. Medellin (9th) have won their last five games in a row and could break in to the top eight as their recovery from a poor start to the Apertura campaign continues.
Saturday afternoon sees top team Atletico Huila host fifth-placed Patriotas. Without a win in four games, Huila will be searching for three points to guarantee their run at the top continues. Patriotas must put a disappointing midweek cup loss to second-tier Atletico Bucaramanga behind them.
Meanwhile seventh-placed Envigado make a tough trip to Bogota to face La Equidad (4th). The Medellin-area club go on a five-game winless run, while La Equidad have won their last six home games.
Saturday evening begins with Barranquilla club Junior’s trip to Bogota, where they face Santa Fe. Both teams are seeking a third win in a row, although Junior’s midweek cup victory in the Barranquilla derby was their first away win in ten games.
The late kick off sees second-bottom Cucuta Deportivo travel to face Deportivo Cali (9th). While Cali have had a patchy Apertura campaign so far, they have won five of their last six games at home. Coupled with the fact Cacuta have not won away this season, the safe money would be with a home win.
Sunday afternoon offers Once Caldas the opportunity to pull further away from the bottom, having failed to win for their first ten games. The 2004 Copa Libertadores winners host bottom club Deportes Quindio, who registered their first win of 2012 in their midweek cup victory over Tolima.
While Caldas will be seeking to break away from the bottom of the table, Itagui Ditaires (3rd) will seek to hit the summit. The Medellin-area club host second-placed Deportes Tolima, with three points between the pair. If Huila stumble against Patriotas, Itagui could be top of the table at the close of the weekend. Itagui have won all but one of their home games in 2012.
Sunday afternoon’s other game takes Bogota giants Millionarios (13th) north to face Boyaca Chico (16th). Both teams have experienced disappointing Apertura campaigns so far, although a win for Millionarios and favourable results elsewhere could see them sneak in to the top eight.
Sunday evening sees Atletico Nacional (12th) host Deportivo Pasto (10th). Medellin’s Nacional finally ended a nine-game win-less streak in their midweek 4-1 cup victory over city rivals Itagui and will hope to continue the bounce back against a team who have not won away in the league this year.
Game week 10 matches
Fri 30/03/12
Real Cartagena – Medellin
Sat 31/03/12
Atletico Huila – Patriotas
La Equidad – Envigado
Santa Fe – Junior
Deportivo Cali – Cucuta Deportivo
Sun 01/04/12
Once Caldas – Deportes Quindio
Itagui Ditaires – Deportes Tolima
Boyaca Chico – Millonarios
Atletico Nacional – Deportivo Pasto