Colombian soccer action continues this weekend as Santa Fe and Cucuta Deportivo attempt to maintain their perfect record, while Junior aim to find their way into the top eight.
Round four kicks off on Friday as La Equidad host Once Caldas in the capital city, hoping to bounce back from last week’s defeat at Cucuta. Once Caldas have only played two matches so far and won both, and as such form a threat to the top positions. The trip to Bogota will certainly form a good rest for the 2004 Copa Libertadores winners.
On Saturday, Independiente Medellin face yet another tough challenge in an away match to Deportivo Cali. The home side could beat their second Medellin-based team in two rounds after defeat Atletico Nacional 3-1 last week. ‘DIM’ were the stronger in a home match with Envigado, 1-0, and as such bounced back from a defeat in their opening game.
In the day’s other game, Nacional play their second match of the season against Deportes Quindio, who surprisingly managed to win two of their first three games. Nacional are still looking for their first victory.
Sunday’s fixtures have leaders Santa Fe play away to Real Cartagena, who haven’t won any of their first three games. Santa Fe seem to be unbeatable so far and have a slightly better goal record than Cucuta, leaving them in the top spot. The last time Santa Fe won in Cartagena was in 2005. The four games that were played in the coastal town since, were all won by the hosts.
Cucuta travel to Ibague to face Deportes Tolima, who are yet to be defeated having won one game and drawn the other two.
Third-placed Boyaca Chico, who earned seven points from their first three games of the season, play away to Deportivo Pereira who played just two matches so far and lost both. When these two sides met in Tunja six months ago, both scored one goal in the first half for a 1-1 final result.
Defending champions Junior had a bit of a rocky start with just four points from three games, and could face another tough challenge as they play away to Millonarios in Sunday’s late game. Junior do have good memories from their last meeting with ‘Millos’, winning 2-0 in February, but haven’t actually beaten the Bogota side in the capital city since 2004.
In Sunday’s other games, Envigado host Atletico Huila and America de Cali play away to Cortulua.
Full schedule:
Friday, August 6
7:30 La Equidad – Once Caldas
Saturday, August 7
6:20 Deportivo Cali – Medellin
8:30 Nacional – Quindio
Sunday, August 8
3:30 Tolima – cucuta
3:30 Pereira – Boyaca
3:30 Envigado – Huila
3:30 Cartagena – santa Fe
3:30 Cortulua – America
5:30 Millonarios – Junior
