Millonarios vs Defensa y Justicia
2022 Copa Colombia champions Millonarios lost to Atletico Mineiro in the Copa Libertadores’ third stage through a 4-2 aggregate result (1-1 at home and 3-1 away defeat). However, they are looking good in the league: having beaten Atletico Bucaramanga 2-0 away last Saturday, the team are Torneo Apertura leaders on 21 points (alongside America but with one game in hand). Alberto Gamero’s men remain unbeaten since the aforementioned slump, registering three victories and two draws. At home, Millonarios haven’t lost any of the last ten (winning seven and drawing three since losing to Independiente Medellin 2-1 in October).
Defensa y Justicia produced a remarkable campaign last term, ending up in seventh spot in the aggregate table to qualify for the Copa Sudamericana and they will try now to repeat the title lifted in the 2020 edition. Last Thursday, El Halcon had to settle for a scoreless home draw against Velez Sarsfield, which extended their winless streak to four matches (three stalemates and one defeat). However, Julio Vaccari’s men are performing well in the Liga Profesional, sitting in sixth place on 15 points after nine rounds. In fact, they lost 1-0 at Platense in their last road match, which stopped a seven-game unbeaten run of four victories and three stalemates on away turf.
Millonarios are leaders in Colombia, they have some altitude factor on their advantage here and they should be able to beat this irregular Defensa y Justicia at home.