A week that Colombian soccer will hope to forget ends with a series of mid-table match-ups on Saturday and a couple of tasty morcels on Sunday.
The main news from the week was the death of three Nacional fans, all allegedly killed by Millonarios fans. As a result of the deaths, Tuesday’s game between the two rivals was cancelled, and is now scheduled to take place on October 8th.
MORE: Bogota cancels soccer game after fan killings
Saturday, September 28th – 5pm
Patriotas vs. Junior
The pick of Saturday’s selection of inconsequential mid-table matchups is the game between Patriotas and Junior.
Junior travel from the Caribbean coast down to the lush valleys of Boyaca with a single point advantage over Patriotas. But Patriotas have a game in hand, and will feel confident after escaping with a draw from Wednesday’s difficult trip to Cali, Gonzalo Martinez scoring a penalty late in the second half to leave the score at 1-1. They have now gone four games without losing.
Meanwhile Junior finally returned to winning ways against Quindio on Wednesday after a run of 3 defeats in 4 games that had left their Argentine manager Miguel “Zurdo” Lopez barely clinging on to his job. His team scored 3 goals inside 52 minutes to relieve some pressure, and he will be hoping that in-form striker Luis Carlos Ruiz continues to find the back of the net – he already has 7 goals this season.
Sunday, September 29th – 5pm
Santa Fe vs. Medellin
The most enticing of Sunday’s games sees 8th-placed Medellin travel to Bogota to face 4th-placed Santa Fe. On Wednesday, Medellin bludgeoned four past Huila before half time to put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Santa Fe, in contrast, are desperately in need of some inspiration after 3 consecutive draws, although two of those came against 3rd-placed rivals Millonarios.
5:30pm
Nacional vs. Equidad
If you particularly enjoy watching teams win 2-0, then watch Nacional play Equidad on Sunday. High-flying Nacional have won their last 3 home games 2-0, and are on a run of 7 consecutive wins, scoring 15 and conceding just 2.
Wendesday, October 2nd – 6pm
Medellin vs. Nacional
The only game worth watching next week is the big derby between Medellin and Nacional. Although the clubs share a stadium, Medellin are technically the home team, meaning that the stands will be draped in red and reverberting with the songs of “The Powerful” (El Poderoso). In the return fixture Nacional won 2-0, don’t bet against them doing so again on Wednesday.
Sources
- Liga Postobon Official Website
- El martes 8 de octubre se jugará el partido Millonarios-Nacional (Futbol Red)
