If you’ve spent any time in the sweltering heat of a Honduran football stadium, you know that names like Olimpia carry a weight that’s hard to describe. They are the "Lions." The titans of Tegucigalpa. But then there’s Club Deportivo Choloma, the team from the industrial heart of the country that, every once in a while, decides to play the role of the ultimate spoiler.
Honestly, the Club Deportivo Choloma vs. Olimpia rivalry isn’t always about equal footing on the trophy shelf. It’s about that classic David vs. Goliath energy that keeps the Liga Nacional alive. We just saw this play out in the 2025 Apertura season, and let’s be real, it was a rollercoaster for anyone betting on a simple blowout.
The 7-2 Madness and What It Actually Meant
Back in July 2025, things got weird. Most people expected Olimpia to win, but nobody predicted a 7-2 demolition.
It was one of those games where everything Olimpia touched turned to gold. Jerry Bengtson opened the floodgates with a penalty just four minutes in. By the time Jorge Benguché and Yustin Arboleda were done, the scoreboard looked more like a baseball game. For Choloma, it was a nightmare at home. They had moments—Julio Bernárdez and Ariel Díaz actually found the net—but they were basically trying to stop a tidal wave with a beach umbrella.
But here’s the thing: that scoreline didn't tell the whole story of Choloma’s season. While Olimpia was busy racking up 24 points and sitting pretty at the top of the table, Choloma was grinding. They are a team that lives on resilience. When they met again in September 2025 at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés, the narrative shifted.
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A Tactical Chess Match in Tegucigalpa
The September rematch was different. It wasn't a 7-goal circus. It was a 2-0 win for Olimpia, but it was hard-fought.
Olimpia, led by the tactical mind of Pedro Troglio (whose influence on this squad is legendary), controlled the ball. They had about 56% possession, keeping the ball moving with that sophisticated short-passing game they’re known for. Choloma, on the other hand, sat back. They played a "suffer and strike" style that almost worked.
- Jerry Bengtson (the ageless wonder at 38) scored again in the 8th minute.
- Jorge Álvarez finally sealed it in the 83rd minute.
- Choloma’s defense, despite the loss, looked night-and-day better than that July disaster.
You’ve gotta respect the "fighting spirit" of a team like Choloma. They came into that game at the bottom of the rankings, but they didn't just roll over. They made Olimpia earn every inch of that turf.
Understanding the "Lions" Dominance
Why does Olimpia keep winning? It’s not just money. It’s the depth.
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When you look at their roster, it’s a "who’s who" of Honduran talent. You have Edrick Menjívar in goal—the guy is a wall. Then you have guys like Edwin Rodríguez and José Pinto creating magic in the midfield. In the 2025 season, they weren't just dominating domestically; they were pushing deep into the CONCACAF Central American Cup, taking on teams like Real Estelí and Alajuelense.
For a team like Club Deportivo Choloma, facing that kind of machinery is a massive ask. Choloma operates on a fraction of the budget. Their stadium, Estadio Rubén Deras, holds about 5,500 people. Compare that to the 35,000-seat cauldron that Olimpia calls home. It’s a different world.
The Misconceptions About This "Rivalry"
A lot of casual fans think these games are foregone conclusions. "Olimpia always wins," they say.
Well, historically, that’s mostly true—Transfermarkt records show Olimpia with 7 wins to Choloma’s 3 in recent head-to-head stretches—but it’s the draws and the narrow escapes that matter. Choloma has this weird knack for catching the big teams looking past them.
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If Olimpia is focused on a big CONCACAF match or a "Clásico" against Motagua, that’s when Choloma strikes. It’s a classic trap game.
What to Watch for in 2026
As we move into the 2026 Clausura, the stakes are changing. Olimpia is coming off a massive high, having just beat Marathón 1-0 in the Apertura final (shoutout to that 3-2 aggregate win). They are the hunted.
Choloma is in a rebuilding phase. Their squad is a bit older—average age around 28—and they’ve struggled with consistency. But they’ve been active in the transfer market, looking for that spark.
Key Matchup Factors to Track:
- The Bengtson Factor: Can defenses finally figure out how to mark a 38-year-old who still moves like he’s 22?
- Choloma’s Home Fortress: If they can make the Rubén Deras a place where teams hate to travel, they’ll survive.
- Midfield Control: Agustín Mulet and Jorge Álvarez are the engines for Olimpia. If you stop them, you stop the supply line to the strikers.
Practical Steps for Fans and Analysts
If you are following the next Club Deportivo Choloma vs. Olimpia fixture, don't just look at the table.
- Check the Injury Report: Olimpia’s deep squad allows them to rotate, but if Arboleda or Menjívar are out, the "invincibility" factor drops significantly.
- Look at the Schedule: See if Olimpia has a midweek international game. If they do, they might field a "B" team against Choloma.
- Watch the First 15 Minutes: Choloma tends to concede early. If they can keep it 0-0 past the 20-minute mark, their confidence skyrockets, and the game becomes a grind.
The reality is that football in Honduras is as much about heart as it is about tactics. Olimpia has the trophies, but teams like Choloma have the grit. That’s why we keep watching.
Actionable Insight: For those tracking Liga Nacional stats, focus on "Expected Goals" (xG) rather than just final scores. Olimpia often outperforms their xG due to the sheer clinical finishing of Bengtson, while Choloma’s defensive metrics often show they are much harder to break down than a 7-2 scoreline suggests. Keep an eye on the official Liga Nacional site for the 2026 Clausura schedule updates, as venue changes are common in the early months of the year.