Ileana Sanchez
Dailysports's expert
On June 13, Estadio Atanasio Girardot (Medellín) will host the match of the 5th round of the Primera A Aperture Quadrangular of Colombia, in which Independiente Medellin will compete with America de Cali. The battle will start at 00:00 CET.
Independiente Medellin
The team has been trying to remind of itself in recent years. It goes without saying that it was not possible to take the champion title again after 2016. Still, there was the 2nd place, including the previous season; moreover, it took the Copa Colombia twice in a row in 2019-2020. Speaking about the Copa Libertadores, “El Poderoso de la Montaña” managed to reach the group stage. To be honest, there was a hard start (the team took 1 point in 2 rounds), but then it beat both Metropolitanos and Nacional. Moreover, it took the most important victory due to a single goal in the 46th minute of the game this week in Venezuela. At the same time, everything is actually finished at the inner arena. Four previous rounds of the group stage brought 2 draws and losses, and it is not for nothing that the club is in last place.
America de Cali
The club won 2 league titles in a row in 2019-2020. Still, there was an extremely weak performance, which resulted in the 12th place in the Primera, in the previous season. Taking into account the higher mentioned results, it was easy to add in the game, and it succeeded. “The Red Devils” were able to take 9 wins and 32 points in 20 matches in the Apertura – it was the 4th result in the final standings. The confrontation with Independiente, by the way, finished at a distance of 1 match behind the competitor. And being at the group stage, “Los Escarlatas” were “blown away”. They started optimistically: an away 1-1 draw in the battle against Chico and a 2-0 score in the struggle with Independiente. And the match for the leadership in the quartet was completely lost to Millonarios: a home 0-1 failure and an away 1-2 misfire. As a result, there are no more chances for the 1st place, which is the only way to the Clausura final.
The statistics of head-to-head matches
Speaking about the current year, America de Cali was stronger in both fights – the higher mentioned 2-0 success at the group stage was followed by a 1-0 score in the fifth round of the Apertura, which took place in Medellin in February.
Predictions
Bookmakers give preference to the hosts. Still, that is the most important, there is practically no tournament motivation left, and we do not believe in the entertainment of the following battle. Thus, we bet on “total: under 2.5” (odd: 1.909).
