What a dramatic turn of events in the Liga BetPlay-2! The race for the coveted eight spots in the quadrangular semifinals has become a nail-biter after a series of intense matches and a wild rainstorm that left fans and players alike on the edge of their seats. With only four matchdays remaining, the leaderboard has shifted, and several teams are fighting tooth and nail to keep their championship dreams alive.
On October 20, 2025, the Atanasio Girardot stadium in Medellín was the scene of both excitement and chaos. Deportivo Independiente Medellín (DIM) hosted Santa Fe in a match postponed from matchday 14, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, but not before a torrential downpour forced referee Carlos Márquez to halt play at the 89th minute. The pitch was waterlogged, the ball barely rolled, and players struggled to keep their footing as the rain poured down. Márquez ultimately sent everyone to the tunnel and called the match, leaving both teams with a single point.
Despite the abrupt ending, this result had major implications. Medellín, known as “El Poderoso,” climbed to 31 points, tying Junior de Barranquilla at the top of the table but edging ahead due to goal difference. The league is now tighter than ever. According to the official standings, Junior and Medellín each have 31 points, followed closely by Bucaramanga (30), Atlético Nacional (28), Fortaleza (28), Tolima (26), Llaneros (25), and Santa Fe (22). With so many clubs tightly packed, every remaining fixture feels like a final!
The goals in Medellín’s rain-soaked clash were scored by two familiar faces. Hugo Rodallega put Santa Fe ahead, capitalizing on a defensive lapse, only for Francisco Fydriszewski to level the score for the hosts. The conditions may have been miserable, but the energy on the pitch was undeniable. Fans will remember the sight of players sloshing through puddles, determined to make every minute count. As one local report described, “the grama del Atanasio quedó completamente encharcada, mientras el balón no rodaba con facilidad”—the pitch was completely waterlogged, and the ball just wouldn’t roll.
Elsewhere, the battle for semifinal spots intensified. Deportes Tolima, under the guidance of coach Lucas González, notched a crucial 2-0 victory against La Equidad at the Metropolitano de Techo stadium earlier that same day. Jersson González was the hero for Tolima, scoring both goals in the 27th and 59th minutes. This win pushed Tolima up to 26 points, consolidating their place among the top eight and giving them a five-point cushion over Águilas Doradas, who sit just outside the qualifying zone.
Llaneros, in their debut season in Colombia’s top flight, continue to impress. On October 19, they secured a 2-0 win over Once Caldas in Villavicencio, with Bryan Urueña and Julián Angulo providing the goals. This victory not only guaranteed Llaneros’ stay in the first division for another year but also put them on the brink of a historic first appearance in the semifinals. With 25 points, they are leading the chase for one of the three remaining spots in the top eight. Talk about a fairytale run!
Junior, meanwhile, pulled off a dramatic comeback against Deportivo Pereira, overturning a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 at home. The visitors, thanks to Carlos Darwin Quintero and José Moya, looked set for an upset, but Bryan Castrillón and Steven Rodríguez (both from the penalty spot) brought Junior level before 'Tití' clinched the winner deep into stoppage time. That kind of resilience is exactly why Junior remains a title favorite.
Atlético Nacional also kept their hopes alive with a last-gasp 2-2 draw against Deportivo Pasto, reaching 28 points and staying firmly in the playoff picture. Fortaleza matched Nacional’s tally, sitting comfortably with 28 points as well.
Águilas Doradas, not to be outdone, grabbed a 1-0 win over Alianza Valledupar, thanks to Jorge Luis Rivaldo’s strike. They’re still in contention mathematically, but with only four matchdays left, the margin for error is razor-thin. América de Cali, after a crucial 2-0 victory over Deportivo Cali in the Valle classic, finds themselves just one point outside the qualifying zone—another club with everything to play for.
The coaching carousel also made headlines, with David González being presented as América’s new manager. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment, and fans are eager to see if he can guide the team into the semifinals—and perhaps beyond.
Looking at the fixtures ahead, the tension only ramps up. Llaneros still have to visit Bucaramanga and Tolima, while hosting Nacional and Envigado. Tolima faces home games against Cali and Llaneros, and away trips to Unión Magdalena and Águilas Doradas. Santa Fe’s path includes home clashes with Millonarios and Cali, plus tough visits to Junior and Alianza. Águilas Doradas must travel to Pereira and Nacional, with home games against Envigado and Tolima still on their schedule. América de Cali hosts Junior and Unión Magdalena, and hits the road for matches against DIM and Chicó. Deportivo Cali, meanwhile, faces away games at Tolima and Santa Fe, and welcomes Alianza and Once Caldas at home.
With so many permutations and only a handful of points separating the chasing pack, every match could tip the balance. Even teams like Alianza FC, Once Caldas, Pereira, Unión Magdalena, Millonarios, and Envigado aren’t mathematically eliminated yet, though Pasto, Chicó, and Equidad appear to be out of the running for now.
Fans can also look forward to the pending fixture between Millonarios and Bucaramanga, set for October 21 at El Campín in Bogotá. Once that match is played, the table will truly reflect the state of play—and the final four matchdays (17 to 20) promise to be absolutely electric.
As the dust settles on a rain-soaked week in Colombian football, one thing is clear: the race for the Liga BetPlay-2 semifinals is wide open, with every goal and every point carrying enormous weight. The drama is far from over, and supporters across the country are bracing for a spectacular finish to the regular season.
