Honestly, if you think the América vs. Once Caldas matchup is just another date on the Colombian football calendar, you haven’t been paying attention. It is a clash of identities. One side carries the weight of "La Pasión de un Pueblo," while the other remains the only "White" ghost that haunted South America back in 2004.
The air gets thick when these two meet.
We just saw them scrap to a 1-1 draw in a friendly on January 14, 2026. Most people dismiss friendlies. They shouldn't. That match at the Pascual Guerrero was a chess match disguised as a kickabout. Kevin Angulo found the net for the "Escarlatas" at the 38-minute mark, but Jaime Alvarado snatched it back for Once Caldas just before the half. It was gritty. It was precisely what we expect from the 2026 Liga BetPlay.
The Pascual Guerrero Fortress
América de Cali hasn't lost to Once Caldas at home in 14 straight matches. That is a staggering statistic.
Think about that for a second.
You have to go back years to find a time when the Manizales crew actually walked out of Cali with three points. The Pascual Guerrero isn't just a stadium; it’s a psychological barrier for the "Blanco Blanco." For the upcoming clash on January 30, 2026, the stakes are even higher because it’s the third round of the Apertura.
✨ Don't miss: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
David González, the man at the helm for América, has been tinkering. He’s got Jorge Soto in goal and a backline that’s finally looking stable with Marlon Torres and Nico Hernández. But stability is boring if you can’t score. That’s where Yeison Guzmán and Dylan Borrero come in. They are the creative engines. If they don't click, the 14-game unbeaten home streak might finally be in jeopardy.
Why Once Caldas is Different This Year
Hernán Darío "El Arriero" Herrera has built a team that refuses to die. They are the ultimate "tough out."
Look at their recent form. Seven matches without a loss.
Dayro Moreno is 40 years old. Forty! In football years, that’s prehistoric. Yet, he’s still the guy you fear in the 89th minute. He doesn't run like he used to—nobody does at 40—but his positioning is telepathic. He knows where the ball is going to be before the midfielder even thinks about passing it.
The Midfield Battleground
The real story of América vs. Once Caldas usually happens in the center circle. Once Caldas relies heavily on Robert Mejía and Jaime Alvarado. They aren't there to play pretty football; they’re there to break your rhythm. They’re "annoying" in the best possible way for a coach.
🔗 Read more: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
América, on the other hand, wants to dictate. Rafael Carrascal is the maestro here. If Alvarado can sit on Carrascal and keep him from turning, América’s wingers like Jan Lucumí become isolated. It’s a tactical tug-of-war that most casual fans miss while they’re waiting for a golazo.
Breaking Down the Statistics
Let’s talk numbers, but not the boring kind.
In their last 10 head-to-head encounters, the split is incredibly tight: 3 wins for América, 2 for Once Caldas, and 5 draws. Half of the games end in a stalemate. This tells you that neither side really knows how to kill the other off lately.
- Average Goals: It’s low. Don’t expect a 5-4 thriller. We’re looking at an average of 1.4 goals per game for América and 1.2 for Once Caldas recently.
- The "Home" Factor: América scores significantly more when the red smoke fills the Pascual.
- Discipline: Both teams have a tendency to pick up yellow cards in the first 30 minutes. It’s a "territory marking" thing.
What to Watch for on January 30
The upcoming Liga BetPlay match is going to be a litmus test for both projects. América has been shipping goals—averaging about 1.4 conceded per game in their last five. That’s a leak David González needs to plug, especially with guys like Déinner Quiñónes lurking for the visitors.
Once Caldas is coming off a 1-1 draw against Deportivo Cali. They are comfortable in the Valle del Cauca. They don't get intimidated by the heat or the noise anymore.
💡 You might also like: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
Key Matchups to Circle
- Marlon Torres vs. Dayro Moreno: The veteran defender against the legendary goalscorer. This is pure nostalgia and pure grit.
- Yeison Guzmán vs. Robert Mejía: If Guzmán finds pockets of space, Once Caldas is in trouble. If Mejía eats him alive, the "Escarlatas" will look toothless.
- The Bench: Keep an eye on Adrian Ramos. At 39, he’s the "in case of emergency, break glass" option for América.
Tactical Nuance: The "Arriero" Style
People call Once Caldas defensive. That’s a bit of a lazy take. They are reactive. There’s a difference. They wait for you to overextend. They wait for that one lazy pass from a fullback. Then, Michael Barrios or Pipe Gómez are gone.
América likes to keep the ball. They had 50% possession in the recent friendly, which is actually low for them. They want 60%. They want to suffocate you. But against a Herrera-led team, having the ball can be a trap. The more you have it, the more space you leave behind you.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're looking at this match from a tactical or even a betting perspective, here’s the reality of América vs. Once Caldas:
- Wait for the 60th minute: Both teams tend to make their decisive moves after the hour mark when the legs get heavy.
- Watch the corners: Once Caldas averaged 6 corners to América's 4 in their last meeting. They use set pieces as a primary attacking weapon.
- The Draw is king: Given the history and the current defensive setups, a draw is statistically the most likely outcome, specifically a 1-1 scoreline.
- Home dominance is real: Even if Once Caldas is in better "form," the psychological weight of not winning in Cali for 14 matches is a massive hurdle for the players.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a grind. América needs to prove they can beat the organized, mid-block teams if they want to be "Campeones" again. Once Caldas just needs to keep being the most difficult team in Colombia to beat. On January 30, we’ll see which philosophy wins out.
Check the official lineups an hour before kickoff. If David González starts with a three-man backline, he’s worried about the counter. If he goes 4-3-3, he’s going for the throat. Either way, it won't be boring.