The Colombian Copa Mustang II is well underway and starts its fifth
round of matches on Saturday. This week, leaders Atletico Huila defend
their top spot in a home match with Envigado, while Independiente
Medellin face a touch challenge at Santa Fe.
The round kicks off on Saturday with the match between Cucuta Deportivo and Millonarios. Cucuta are currently in seventh place and Millonarios in ninth, leaving both clubs on the edge of the zone that gives access to the group phase at the end of this regular season. Millonarios have good memories from their last two meetings with Cucuta, winning both. However, The Bogota side has been having difficulties winning away games in Cucuta.
Independiente Medellin are hunting for first place and do so at Santa Fe on Saturday. This clash is the highest-profile game of the week, with number four hosting number two. The last time DIM won an away game at Santa Fe was in 2007.
Later on Saturday, Boyaca Chico host Deportivo Pereira in Tunja.
Action continues on Sunday when Atletico Huila host last-placed Envigado for a match that should really allow the Armenia side to earn another three points. Matches between these two sides practically never end in away wins, which could form another obstacle for Envigado.
Atletico Nacional host Deportes Tolima at Atanasio Girardot stadium and technically even have a chance of jumping from third to first place. These two sides last met in Ibague last Match, with Tolima taking a 2-1 victory.
La Equidad, currently the second Bogota team in the ranking, visit Real Cartagena who are in tenth place and hope to enter the top eight. These two teams met only three times before. La Equidad won two, but the most recent encounter ended undecided.
The most attractive clash of the weekend is undoubtedly the derby between Deportivo Cali and local rivals America in Sunday’s late match. Deportivo have done better in recent derbies, having won two of the last three. The most recent encounter ended in a 1-0 Copa Postobon victory to Cali, three months ago. Odds are slightly in favor of the home side, but a close game should be expected.
Other matches on Sunday are Deportivo Pasto versus Junior and Once Caldas against Deportes Quindio.
