Santa Fe Clinch Superliga Title With 3-0 Rout Of Junior

Independiente Santa Fe have reclaimed their place atop Colombian football, clinching the 2026 Superliga BetPlay crown with a commanding 3-0 victory over Junior de Barranquilla at Estadio El Campín in Bogotá. The win marks Santa Fe’s first Superliga title in five years, their last coming in 2021, and wraps up a two-legged final that saw them outscore Junior 4-1 on aggregate.

The stakes were high heading into this eagerly anticipated rematch. Both clubs arrived as reigning champions—Santa Fe as winners of the 2025-I Liga BetPlay, and Junior as the 2025-II titleholders. The first leg, played at Estadio Metropolitano de Barranquilla, ended in a tense 1-1 draw, with Hugo Rodallega netting for Santa Fe and Teófilo Gutiérrez equalizing for Junior. That result left everything to play for in Bogotá, and the stage was set for a dramatic conclusion.

From the opening whistle, Santa Fe wasted no time signaling their intent. In just the fourth minute, Ewil Murillo pounced on a counterattack orchestrated by Yilmar Velázquez, lofting a shot over the advancing Junior goalkeeper Mauro Silveira. The early strike electrified the home crowd of more than 26,000 fans, whose energy seemed to propel the Cardenales forward at every turn.

Junior, for their part, tried to respond with patient buildup play, but Santa Fe’s defense, anchored by goalkeeper Andrés Mosquera Marmolejo, held firm. The visitors struggled to break through, and as the first half wore on, frustration began to mount for the Barranquilla side. Just before the halftime whistle, disaster struck again for Junior. Awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, Santa Fe’s veteran forward Hugo Rodallega stepped up and unleashed a thunderous shot that left Silveira rooted to the spot. The ball bulged the net at 45+3 minutes, sending Santa Fe into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead and the fans into raptures.

"Santa Fe started with fury in the Superliga BetPlay second leg and Junior paid dearly for it," reported Win Sports, capturing the mood inside El Campín.

The second half saw Junior desperately seeking a lifeline, but Santa Fe’s organization and relentless pressing left them with precious few clear-cut chances. The introduction of fresh legs, including recent signings like Nahuel Bustos and Jhojan Torres, kept the tempo high for the home side. Junior’s coach, Alfredo Arias, tried to shuffle his deck, but the visitors couldn’t find the creativity or composure needed to claw their way back.

As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Santa Fe delivered the final blow. In the 90+4th minute, Nahuel Bustos—making his mark in his first appearance for the club—combined brilliantly with Alexis Zapata, broke free, and hammered a shot past Silveira into the left corner. The goal sealed a memorable night for the Argentine striker and capped off a dominant team display. "Nahuel Bustos scored the third goal in injury time, his first since joining the club, with a powerful shot to the left post past goalkeeper Mauro Silveira," noted El Comercio.

Referee Jairo Mayorga, backed by VAR official Fernando Acuña, kept a tight grip on proceedings. The match featured several notable incidents: Ewil Murillo and Guillermo Paiva were both cautioned, Andrés Mosquera received a yellow card for time-wasting in the dying moments, and the VAR reviewed a possible penalty for Junior, ultimately finding no infringement.

Santa Fe’s triumph wasn’t just about silverware—it also carried significant financial rewards. The Superliga BetPlay 2026 distributed a prize pool close to 1,000 million Colombian pesos, with the champions set to receive about 670 million. For clubs with international ambitions and recent investments in their squads, this windfall represents a crucial boost to start the year. Both Santa Fe and Junior have already secured group-stage berths in the Copa Libertadores thanks to their 2025 league titles, ensuring additional revenue streams and a packed calendar ahead.

The final also showcased the depth and ambition of both squads. Junior’s recent signings—Luis Fernando Muriel, Jannenson Sarmiento, and Kevin Pérez—were expected to bolster their attack, while Santa Fe’s new arrivals included Franco Fagúndez, Kilian Toscano (on loan from Atlético Nacional), Helibelton Palacios, and the night’s hero, Nahuel Bustos. These reinforcements reflect the clubs’ determination to compete on multiple fronts in 2026.

The atmosphere in Bogotá was electric, with over 26,000 tickets sold—a sharp contrast to the 14,500 sold for the first leg in Barranquilla. The home crowd’s passion was palpable, fueling Santa Fe’s relentless approach and celebrating every tackle, pass, and goal as if it were a cup final—because, in essence, it was. Estadio El Campín, with its capacity of 36,343, proved once again to be a fortress for Los Cardenales.

For Santa Fe coach Pablo Repetto, the victory was a testament to his team’s discipline and tactical execution. His counterpart, Alfredo Arias, will no doubt be disappointed, but Junior’s recent league triumph and international commitments suggest they’ll have opportunities to bounce back. Both coaches, hailing from Uruguay, have stamped their authority on their respective squads, and their rivalry looks set to continue into the new season.

“Santa Fe didn’t have the ball for much of the match, but they made the most of their opportunities and struck at exactly the right moments,” summarized local media, highlighting the clinical edge that made the difference on the night.

With the final whistle, Santa Fe’s players and fans erupted in celebration, savoring a trophy that had eluded them since 2021. The Superliga title not only cements their status as one of Colombia’s premier clubs but also sets the tone for an exciting 2026 campaign—both domestically and on the continental stage.

As the confetti settled and the trophy was lifted high, one thing was clear: Santa Fe are back, and they mean business. The rest of Colombian football has been put on notice.