Colo Colo Faces Midfield Crisis Without Arturo Vidal for Upcoming Clásicos

Colo Colo will be without Arturo Vidal for two of their most important matches of the year, as the midfielder received a two-game suspension following his red card against Audax Italiano. The sanction sidelines the team captain for both the clash against Universidad Católica on July 6 and the derby versus Universidad de Chile on July 12.

Jorge Almirón is also dealing with the uncertainty surrounding Claudio Aquino, who missed the last match due to injury and is currently recovering during the league break. If Aquino isn’t fit in time, the coach will have to rely on players who’ve seen little action this season.

Midfield options include Esteban Pavez, recently under fire from fans; Víctor Felipe Méndez, who has struggled for minutes; and 21-year-old Leandro Hernández, a potential wildcard who would also help fulfill the league's U21 minutes requirement.

The Pizarro–Alarcón duo may anchor the midfield, but Almirón must now decide whether to stick with a three-man midfield or return to the more controversial five-man setup. With Colo Colo under pressure to salvage a disappointing centenary year, the margin for error is shrinking.