Saturday night in Bogotá was painted blue as Millonarios F.C. snatched a dramatic 1-0 victory over archrivals Independiente Santa Fe in the clásico capitalino, a match that could define the course of their Liga BetPlay 2025-II campaign. The clash, held at the iconic El Campín stadium on October 25, 2025, was anything but ordinary—a tense, tactical battle that only reached its boiling point in the dying seconds. For Millonarios, the result keeps dreams of a semifinal quadrangular berth alive, while Santa Fe is left to ponder another frustrating setback in front of their home fans.
The match unfolded with both teams feeling the weight of the occasion. Santa Fe, acting as hosts, filled the stands with red, but by the final whistle, it was the blue of Millonarios that erupted in celebration. The first half offered little in the way of fireworks, with both sides cautious and content to test each other in the midfield. Shots were scarce, and neither goalkeeper was truly troubled. It was a clásico where nerves and strategy took precedence over flair and risk.
Things turned on their head after the hour mark. At the 65th minute, Dewar Victoria of Millonarios received a direct red card for a serious foul, reducing the visitors to ten men and seemingly tilting the balance in Santa Fe’s favor. Referee Jhon Ospina didn’t hesitate to reach for his pocket, and the 'Embajador' was left with a mountain to climb. According to several reports, "the referee Jhon Ospina did not doubt in showing the red card and leaving the 'Embajador' with ten men on the field."
Coach Hernán Torres, who took over earlier in the season after the dismissal of David González, was forced into a quick tactical shuffle. He withdrew Beckham David Castro and introduced Cristian Cañozales, a move that would prove to be inspired. The match, which had been largely uneventful, suddenly opened up as both teams pushed for a late winner. Santa Fe, eager to exploit their numerical advantage, pressed forward, but Millonarios remained resolute, defending with grit and looking for any chance to counter.
As the clock ticked past 90 minutes, it looked as though both teams would have to settle for a draw. But football, as always, had other ideas. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Millonarios launched one final attack. Hurtado initiated the move, Mackalister Silva provided the crucial pass, and Cañozales—fresh legs and all—darted into the box to meet a cross. Anticipating perfectly, he slotted the ball home past the helpless Santa Fe keeper. The stadium erupted. "Cristian Cañozales arrived at the edge of the goal and slotted the ball in, anticipating in almost miraculous fashion for the fans," one source described the moment. The clásico capitalino was decided at the death, with Millonarios stealing all three points.
For Millonarios, the victory is more than just bragging rights in Bogotá. It’s a lifeline in a campaign that started on rocky ground. With 21 points, the blue side of the capital now sits in 13th place, just three points shy of Águilas Doradas, who currently occupy the last quarterfinal spot. There’s hardly any room for error left, but hope springs eternal. As one analysis put it, "Millonarios must seek all three points in their remaining three regular season games to reach the magic number of 30 points, which should be enough to qualify—though 28 might also suffice in a more complicated scenario."
The road ahead is daunting. Millonarios will next host Once Caldas on Wednesday, October 29, at 8:30 p.m. at El Campín. After that, they travel to face Envigado on November 3, and finally, they’ll take on Boyacá Chicó, with the date and venue yet to be confirmed. If they can string together a trio of wins, the dream of a semifinal berth remains alive. But even a single misstep could see them miss out, especially if direct rivals like Llaneros, América, Alianza, and Santa Fe themselves keep picking up points.
The win, however, comes with a shadow. Dewar Victoria, a key midfielder for Millonarios, is now suspended for the next two Liga BetPlay matches due to his direct red card. Unless an appeal overturns the decision, Victoria will be absent against both Once Caldas and Envigado—a blow for coach Torres, who has relied heavily on him in the starting eleven. Dimayor’s sanction means Millonarios’ already thin squad will be tested even further as the season reaches its climax.
Santa Fe, meanwhile, finds themselves in a precarious position. With 22 points, they sit just one spot above Millonarios in 11th place. Their own campaign has been anything but smooth, marked by managerial changes—Jorge Bava departed mid-season for Cerro Porteño—and a struggle to maintain consistency. The defeat at home is particularly painful, as it pushes them further from the coveted top eight. Their next challenge is a tough away fixture against Junior de Barranquilla, a team eager to bounce back after a recent loss to América de Cali.
The clásico capitalino wasn’t the only drama on a packed Liga BetPlay weekend. América de Cali edged Junior 2-1 to move closer to the playoff spots, while Deportivo Pereira, fielding a youth side due to unpaid wages, suffered a heavy 1-5 defeat to Águilas Doradas. Tolima continued their strong form, beating Deportivo Cali 2-1, and Atlético Bucaramanga solidified their lead atop the table with a 2-0 win over Llaneros. Elsewhere, Unión Magdalena’s 0-1 loss to Once Caldas confirmed their relegation, a bitter end to a tumultuous campaign.
Back in Bogotá, the mood in the Millonarios camp is one of cautious optimism. The players and fans know the margin for error is razor-thin. As one columnist noted, "Millonarios still have nine points to play for and the middle of the table is so tight that every match feels like a final." The club’s resurgence under Hernán Torres has given them a fighting chance, but the pressure is immense. Every pass, every tackle, every shot in the coming weeks could decide their fate.
For Santa Fe, the focus must shift quickly. Their hopes of reaching the semifinals are still alive, but the loss to their city rivals stings. The squad, still adjusting to life under new management, will need to regroup and find form fast if they want to avoid missing out on the postseason entirely. The race for the top eight is as fierce as ever, and with just a handful of matches remaining, there’s no time to dwell on past mistakes.
As the dust settles on another unforgettable clásico capitalino, one thing is clear: the battle for Liga BetPlay’s semifinal spots is wide open. Millonarios have given themselves a lifeline, but the road ahead is fraught with challenges. Santa Fe, bruised but not beaten, will fight on. Bogotá’s football fans wouldn’t have it any other way.
