The drama of the Copa BetPlay 2025 has reached a fever pitch as América de Cali and Atlético Bucaramanga prepare to battle it out in the decisive second leg of their Round of 16 tie. Scheduled for September 3, 2025, at 5:15 p.m. in Cali, this matchup will determine which club secures a coveted spot in the tournament's quarterfinals and keeps their dream alive for both the trophy and a ticket to the 2026 Copa Sudamericana.
The first leg, played in Bucaramanga’s Estadio Alfonso López, saw the home team edge out América de Cali 1-0. That slim advantage sets the stage for a tense return fixture at the Estadio Pascual Guerrero, where every pass, tackle, and shot could tip the scales. For América, the stakes couldn’t be higher—they’re the only major Colombian club yet to lift the Copa BetPlay, having finished as runners-up just last season. For Bucaramanga, a place in the last eight would extend an already impressive unbeaten streak in this competition and further cement their resurgence as a force in Colombian football.
But let’s dig into the context that makes this showdown so tantalizing. América de Cali enters the match on the back of a turbulent spell. Results in the Liga BetPlay have been poor, with the club sitting 20th in the standings after seven matches—just one win, two draws, and four defeats. The recent departure of coach Diego Gabriel Raimondi has only added to the uncertainty swirling around the squad. Their road to the Round of 16, however, was emphatic: they dispatched Tigres with a 6-0 aggregate in Phase 1B, showing flashes of the attacking power that fans know they’re capable of.
On the other side, Atlético Bucaramanga arrives in Cali brimming with confidence. They’ve won five of their last six matches in all competitions and currently sit seventh in the Liga BetPlay table, boasting four wins, a draw, and two losses from their first seven league outings. Their journey to this stage saw them top Phase 1A, finishing ahead of Quindío, Chicó, Boca Juniors, and Cali. It’s not just recent form that’s impressive—Bucaramanga has gone 18 consecutive matches without defeat in the Copa BetPlay, a run stretching back to August 10, 2023, when they last lost to Millonarios in Bogotá. In those 18 games, they’ve racked up 10 wins and eight draws, with 34 goals scored and just 15 conceded. That’s the kind of form that makes any opponent nervous.
History adds another layer to this rivalry. These two sides last clashed in a high-stakes cup situation during the 2024 Copa BetPlay semifinals. That tie ended level after two legs—1-1 in Bucaramanga and 0-0 in Cali—before América advanced via a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. The memory of that elimination still lingers for Bucaramanga’s fans, fueling their desire for revenge this time around. And if you dig even deeper into the archives, you’ll find their most famous meeting: the 1997 Colombian league final, which América won convincingly, taking both legs (1-0 and 2-0) to claim the championship. The ghosts of that season still haunt Bucaramanga supporters, while América’s faithful remember it as a golden era.
Individual players could tip the balance in this high-stakes encounter. For Bucaramanga, Luciano Pons has been a revelation—he’s netted 18 goals in 34 appearances across the Liga, Libertadores, and Copa BetPlay this year, adding three assists to his tally. Fabián Sambueza, another key figure, has featured in 80 matches for the club, notching 11 goals and 17 assists, with four goals and seven assists coming in 30 appearances this season alone. Kevin Londoño is another name to watch, with 39 matches, four goals, and seven assists for Bucaramanga in his current spell.
Bucaramanga’s campaign hasn’t been without its challenges. The team has had to cope with several player expulsions—Bayron Duarte, Jhon Vásquez, Fabry Castro, and Leonardo Flores have all seen red in recent months. Penalties have also been a recurring theme, with the club conceding six spot-kicks this semester alone. Yet, despite these setbacks, coach Leonel Álvarez, a man with four Primera División titles and a Superliga on his resume, has managed to keep the squad focused and resilient.
América de Cali, meanwhile, is desperate to turn the tide. The club’s supporters are hungry for silverware, especially after the disappointment of finishing second in last season’s Copa BetPlay. The team’s only league title in recent years came in 2020, and the pressure is mounting to deliver another trophy. Their most recent encounter with Bucaramanga in league play, back in February, ended in a resounding 4-0 win for América, with goals from Pipe Gómez, Duván Vergara, an own goal by Santiago Jiménez, and Joider Micolta. That dominant performance will be fresh in the minds of both squads, but whether América can recapture that form amid their current struggles remains to be seen.
As for the broader landscape of the Copa BetPlay 2025, the Round of 16 has already produced its share of drama. Junior advanced to the quarterfinals after a heart-stopping penalty shootout win over Atlético FC, while Deportivo Pereira did the same against Cundinamarca. Atlético Nacional put themselves in a commanding position with a 4-0 first leg win over Quindío, and Once Caldas took a 2-1 away victory over Pasto, though their tie won’t be decided until October. Millonarios and Envigado are still to play their first leg, with the winner set to face Pereira in the next round. Santa Fe and Alianza FC are also locked in a tight battle, with their decider scheduled for September 9 in Bogotá.
For Bucaramanga, a place in the quarterfinals would mean extending their remarkable unbeaten run and keeping alive hopes of adding a Copa BetPlay title to their recent Liga championship in 2024. For América, it’s a chance to salvage a difficult season, restore pride, and finally capture the one major domestic trophy that’s eluded them.
Looking ahead, both clubs have important league fixtures on the horizon—Bucaramanga faces Alianza on September 6, while América squares off against Deportivo Cali on September 7. But for now, all eyes are on Cali, where two proud teams, rich in history and ambition, will leave everything on the pitch in pursuit of glory and a place among Colombia’s elite.
The stage is set, the fans are ready, and the outcome is anything but certain. Will América rally at home to overturn the deficit, or can Bucaramanga’s unbeaten streak continue? One thing’s for sure: the Copa BetPlay 2025 is delivering all the excitement Colombian football fans could hope for, and the story is far from over.
