Santa Fe — Once Caldas : Match Preview and Prediction for September 02,2025

Current Champions’ Drive for Points

Santa Fe, the reigning champions of Colombia, are poised to host their opponent on their home ground. They are in urgent need of points to climb back into the coveted playoff zone. Head coach Jorge Bava’s squad is fully committed to defending their title, and securing victories against lower-ranked teams at home is considered a fundamental obligation.

Rodallega’s Crucial Return

A pivotal piece of news that significantly alters the team’s dynamics is the return of Hugo Rodallega to active duty. This formidable forward, who scored the decisive goal in the final of the previous tournament, has made a full recovery from a broken nose and is now ready to play. His comeback represents a colossal boost for an attack that has notably lacked a clinical finisher in recent outings.

Dominant Head-to-Head Record

Now, let’s turn to the most compelling aspect: their head-to-head encounters. Santa Fe boasts an impressive record of six consecutive victories against Once Caldas. Six! When playing at home, their statistics are even more compelling: six wins in their last seven games against this particular opponent. These aren’t just mere numbers; they speak volumes about Santa Fe’s complete tactical and psychological supremacy over Once Caldas. Their most recent clash in June, also held at the Estadio El Campín, concluded with a decisive 1-0 victory for the home side.

Once Caldas: Navigating Deep Crisis

What can be said about the visiting team? The outlook is exceptionally grim. Once Caldas is currently anchored at the very bottom of the Primera A league table. The team finds itself in a profound crisis, having failed to secure a single victory throughout the current championship season. Their paltry returns consist of just three draws from eight matches.

Struggling Statistics Across the Board

Their statistics paint a stark picture of the challenges they face. Once Caldas holds an unenviable position among the league leaders in both defeats and goals conceded over the past 10 rounds. Their offensive efforts are equally lackluster, with the team managing to score remarkably few goals. Their most recent league fixture resulted in a 0-1 home defeat against Deportes Tolima, a match in which they were comprehensively outplayed.

Absence of Star Striker Dairo Moreno

However, the most significant setback to their dwindling chances is the absence of their standout player. Their top scorer, Dairo Moreno, will not be participating in this match, as he has been called up for international duty with the Colombian national team. Losing your primary attacking threat just before an away game against the reigning champions, a team you’ve consistently lost to six times in a row, is effectively a death knell. Without Moreno, Once Caldas’s attack appears utterly devoid of any real bite.