The Liga BetPlay 2025 season is heating up as the 'todos contra todos' phase rolls into its 12th round, with the competition at the top of the table tighter than ever. As the calendar turns to the weekend of September 19 to 21, fans across Colombia are bracing themselves for a football spectacle that could shake up the league standings and set the tone for the remainder of the campaign.
Heading into this pivotal round, three teams—Junior, Atlético Bucaramanga, and Fortaleza—are deadlocked at the summit with 21 points apiece. Each club has enjoyed impressive spells, but with the season’s first stage entering its final stretch, every match now carries extra weight—especially for those with aspirations of clinching the coveted 'punto invisible' advantage heading into the playoffs.
The action kicked off on Friday, September 19, with Atlético Bucaramanga hosting Deportes Tolima at the Estadio Américo Montanini. This fixture was more than just a routine league match; it was a clash between two top-four teams, both hungry to seize the lead. Bucaramanga, under the guidance of coach Leonel Álvarez, arrived at the match riding a remarkable six-game unbeaten run. Their recent performances include a hard-fought 0-0 draw against América de Cali and a notable 1-0 victory on the pitch (later awarded 3-0 administratively) over Atlético Nacional—a result that not only boosted their points tally but also precipitated the departure of Nacional’s coach, Javier Gandolfi.
Atlético Bucaramanga’s confidence was echoed by their goalkeeper Aldair Quintana, who told reporters, “Hay que hacer respetar nuestra casa, el partido ante Tolima es vital para nuestras aspiraciones de ir asegurando la clasificación.” ("We have to make our home respected, the match against Tolima is vital for our aspirations to secure qualification.") That sense of urgency is understandable, considering Tolima’s own ambitions. Despite some inconsistency this season, Tolima entered the round in fourth place with 20 points—just one behind the leaders—and was determined to make a statement on Bucaramanga’s turf.
Friday’s late game saw América face Once Caldas at the Pascual Guerrero, but it’s the weekend fixtures that truly have fans buzzing. Saturday, September 20, brings a full slate: Envigado hosts Alianza FC at Polideportivo Sur, Llaneros welcomes Águilas Doradas at Bello Horizonte - Rey Pelé, Pasto squares off with Santa Fe at Departamental Libertad, and Equidad battles Cali at Metropolitano de Techo. Each of these matches could have implications for the mid-table scramble, where every point is precious in the quest for playoff qualification.
The real fireworks, however, are reserved for Sunday, September 21. The headline fixture pits Deportivo Independiente Medellín (DIM) against Junior at the Atanasio Girardot at 6:20 p.m.—a showdown with major ramifications for the top of the table. DIM sits in fifth place with 20 points, just a single point shy of the joint leaders. Their recent form has been nothing short of impressive: seven league matches without defeat, including six wins and a memorable 3-3 draw with Atlético Nacional in round 10. Coach Alejandro Restrepo has been credited with instilling resilience and attacking flair in his squad.
Key to DIM’s resurgence has been the form of Argentine striker Francisco Fydriszewski, who has already notched six goals to rank among the league’s top scorers. Alongside him, creative midfielder Jarlan Barrera, the industrious Francisco Chaverra, and the versatile Baldomero Perlaza have provided a solid backbone. With a game in hand, DIM knows that victory over Junior could catapult them to the summit, depending on other results.
Junior, meanwhile, finds itself at a crossroads. The Barranquilla-based club started the campaign strongly, but recent stumbles—a 3-1 defeat to Unión Magdalena and a 1-1 home draw with La Equidad—have exposed some cracks in their armor. Coach Alfredo Arias, who previously managed DIM, remains bullish about his team’s prospects. “Jugaremos ante un gran equipo (...) Juega bien, tienen un buen proceso ya armado,” Arias remarked, adding, “Si el equipo está sustanciado por lo que realmente significa este partido, vamos a ir a pelear por los tres puntos.” ("We will play against a great team (...) They play well, they have a good process already established. If the team is aware of what this match really means, we are going to fight for the three points.")
Junior will have a full-strength squad available, including influential Paraguayans Guillermo Paiva and Javier Báez, dynamic midfielder Yimmi Chará, and the return of first-choice goalkeeper Mauro Silveira, who missed the previous match due to suspension. Arias will be counting on these key figures to steady the ship and keep Junior firmly in the title race.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Millonarios hosts Fortaleza at El Campín at 2:00 p.m., with both teams eager to keep pace with the leaders. Unión Magdalena faces Atlético Nacional at Sierra Nevada, while Boyacá Chicó takes on Deportivo Pereira at La Independencia to close out the round. Each of these matches carries its own intrigue, as teams jostle for position in a league where the margins are razor-thin.
Beyond the immediate battles on the pitch, this round is also shaping narratives off it. Bucaramanga’s administrative victory over Nacional, which led to Javier Gandolfi’s exit, is a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in Colombian football. It’s also a testament to the high stakes and intense scrutiny that surround every decision, every goal, and every managerial move in the Liga BetPlay.
With so much at stake and so many teams in contention, round 12 of Liga BetPlay 2025 promises drama, passion, and perhaps a few surprises. Will Bucaramanga hold onto their slender lead? Can DIM or Junior seize the moment and leapfrog into first place? Or will an outsider emerge from the chasing pack to upset the established order?
As the weekend unfolds, fans across the country—and indeed, lovers of Colombian football everywhere—will be glued to their screens, radios, and social feeds, savoring every twist and turn. One thing’s for sure: with the league as close as it is, and with so many storylines in play, this round of Liga BetPlay is one that simply can’t be missed.
By the time the final whistle blows on Sunday night, the landscape at the top of the standings may look very different. For now, though, the excitement is palpable, the tension is mounting, and the beautiful game takes center stage once again in Colombia’s premier football competition.
