The Colombian football landscape is bracing for a seismic shift as proposals to overhaul the relegation system gain traction, while the capital’s most storied rivalry—Millonarios versus Independiente Santa Fe—adds extra drama to an already turbulent season. As the Liga Betplay’s 2025 campaign careens toward its midpoint, the stakes have rarely felt higher, both on the pitch and behind closed doors in the boardroom.
Tonight, all eyes turn to El Campín stadium in Bogotá, where Millonarios hosts Independiente Santa Fe at 8:30 p.m. local time in a match broadcast on Win+ Fútbol. This isn’t just any fixture; it’s the 323rd edition of the clásico capitalino, a rivalry steeped in history, pride, and, lately, a bit of desperation. Both teams are eager to shake off recent inconsistencies and reignite their seasons in front of a passionate fan base craving a turnaround.
Millonarios, despite clinching back-to-back league victories over Junior and Águilas, sits an uncharacteristic 16th in the table with just 7 points. The club’s momentum was checked midweek by a disappointing Copa defeat to Envigado, and there’s a palpable sense that time is running out to salvage their campaign. The return of goalkeeper Iván Arboleda, who left as a free agent in June but is now back in the squad, adds a twist to the lineup. His recall comes after the Uruguayan De Amores left doubts in the net, and fans are eager to see if Arboleda can provide the stability so badly needed at the back.
Santa Fe, meanwhile, finds itself in 9th place with 12 points, still outside the coveted top eight. The team’s recent 2-1 loss at home to Once Caldas on September 15, 2025, has only heightened the pressure on coach Jorge Bava and his squad. However, there’s a glimmer of hope: both Emanuel Olivera and Marcelo Meli return from suspension, ready to bolster the defense and midfield, respectively. On the flip side, Santa Fe will be without the experienced Elvis Perlaza, sidelined by yellow card accumulation, and Joaquín Sosa, out injured. The absences could force Bava into tactical adjustments as he seeks to steady a ship rocked by inconsistency.
For both clubs, tonight’s clásico is more than a chance for bragging rights. It’s an opportunity to reset the narrative of their seasons. Historically, Millonarios has the upper hand in this fierce rivalry, with 129 wins and 480 goals scored in the previous 322 encounters. Santa Fe has claimed victory 86 times, netting 390 goals, and the teams have battled to 107 draws. Yet, recent history favors the León: in their last meeting, Santa Fe triumphed over Millonarios at El Campín—while donning blue kits, no less—a win that propelled them into the Liga 2025-I final, which they ultimately won. That stinging defeat still lingers for Millonarios and their supporters, adding even more fuel to tonight’s fire.
But the drama on the field is matched by intrigue off it. The league’s governing body, Dimayor, is set to debate a radical proposal that could change the fate of Colombia’s biggest clubs. Atlético Nacional, América de Cali, and Millonarios—collectively the most popular and commercially powerful teams in the country—have joined forces to propose eliminating the current relegation average system, known as the ‘promedio.’
Under the existing rules, relegation is determined by a multi-year average, a mechanism often seen as a safety net for the bigger clubs, shielding them from the consequences of a single poor season. However, the new proposal, which echoes the approach used in many European leagues, would base relegation solely on the annual table (Reclasificación). The bottom teams would be relegated directly, and the antepenultimate side would face a promotion playoff against the best-placed second division team not already promoted. This change, if adopted, would leave even the giants of Colombian football with no margin for error—every season would become a fight for survival.
The proposal, which is expected to be a hot topic in Dimayor’s November 2025 assembly, could also see the top division trimmed to just 18 teams. While the idea is still under discussion, it’s already generating heated debate among fans and club officials alike. The stakes are enormous: a single bad year could send any club, no matter how illustrious, tumbling into the second division. For context, América de Cali is the only one of the ‘big three’ to have suffered relegation before, enduring five long years in the second tier before clawing their way back to the top flight in 2016. The memory of that ordeal still haunts their supporters.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time such a proposal has surfaced. Jaguares de Córdoba floated a similar idea in February 2023, but it was swiftly rejected. Now, with the backing of the league’s heavyweights, the momentum seems to be shifting. Supporters of the change argue that it would force all clubs to perform consistently, reward merit, and bring the Colombian league in line with international standards. Critics, however, fear the chaos that could ensue if a major club were to be relegated—pointing to the potential financial and reputational fallout.
One club with a particular interest in the proposal is Deportivo Cali. Currently, they’re the ‘big’ club most threatened by the average system. Should the new rules pass, a strong showing in 2026 could be enough to guarantee their top-flight survival, regardless of past missteps. That possibility has not gone unnoticed among their fans, who are watching the debate unfold with bated breath.
Meanwhile, the focus for Millonarios and Santa Fe is firmly on the present. Both clubs know that a win tonight could be the springboard they need to climb the table and reassert their credentials as title contenders. For Millonarios, it’s a chance to reconnect with their supporters and put recent disappointments behind them. For Santa Fe, it’s an opportunity to prove that their recent slump is just a blip—and that they remain a force to be reckoned with.
As the whistle blows at El Campín, the backdrop of potential league reforms looms large. Every point, every goal, and every managerial decision could carry even greater weight if the proposed changes become reality. For now, though, the clásico capitalino promises another chapter of passion, rivalry, and high-stakes football—just the way Colombian fans like it.
