The 2010 Liga Postobon 1 kicks off this Saturday as Millonarios host Atletico Nacional in the season’s first classic. Defending champions Medellin face Santa Fe later at night.
The tournament, which was called the Copa Mustang until now, has now been renamed Liga Postobon, because the tobacco brand has been replaced as sponsor by soda giant Postobon.
The first game of the season has America host vice-champions Atletico Huila in Cali, a match in which the home side are clear favorites to win. It will be America’s first match without coach Diego Umaña, while Huila have to do without a number of influential players who left the club to join other sides during the transfer window.
Millonarios, who have not won the league in 22 years but are still joint-leaders on the list of championships won, hope to make a good start to this year’s campaign in the home match with Nacional, to be played at Bogota’s Campin stadium. As home side, Millonarios are favored to win the clash, but it will be a close encounter as both sides know that a win here is vital to build confidence for the coming few games.
The third and final match on Saturday is another Medellin-Bogota clash as Independiente host Santa Fe at Atanasio Girardot stadium. Copa Colombia champions Santa Fe do not have a very good record in away matches to Medellin, not having come out victoriously since 2005.
Sunday sees the season debut of Atletico Junior at Deportivo Pereira. Question is how well Junior recovered from Thursday’s hard-fought 2-2 draw with Racing of Uruguay in the Copa Libertadores. Pereira will certainly aim to take advantage of any energy gap there may be.
Newly promoted Cortulua face Boyaca Chico, a side they last met with in 2004, the last time that both teams formed part of Colombia’s top flight. All eyes will be on Cortulua, as it is hard to say how well the team may do in this tournament.
Other matches on Sunday are Real Cartagena versus Once Caldas, Envigado at home against Cucuta Deportivo, La Equidad against Deportes Quindio and La Equidad versus Deportivo Cali.