Junior Vs Once Caldas: Arias Leads 1-0 Edge Into Wednesday
Junior vs Once Caldas reaches its decisive second leg Wednesday night, with Junior de Barranquilla carrying a 1-0 lead into the quarterfinal at Romelio Martínez stadium. Alfredo Arias’ team can lock up a semifinal place at home and keep its bicampeonato chase alive.
Romelio Martínez Holds the Edge
The kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, and Junior owns the narrow advantage after winning 1-0 in Manizales. That result gives the home side control of the tie, but only by one goal.
Junior earned that edge at Palogrande, where Arias said the team showed a better attitude than in the first match. He also pointed to the lack of effectiveness in the opponent’s area, a problem that kept the margin from growing before the return leg in Barranquilla.
Arias Faces Three Absences
Junior will enter the match with Harold Rivera and Jermein Peña out by technical decision. Jhomier Guerrero will not play because of a yellow-card suspension, and Guillermo Celis remains injured.
That leaves Arias with a thinner group for a match that will decide whether Junior reaches the semifinal in front of its home crowd. The assignment is simple: protect the first-leg lead and finish the job without giving Once Caldas an opening.
Santa Fe Waits in Semifinal
If Junior advances, Independiente Santa Fe will be waiting in the semifinal. Santa Fe moved through after drawing 1-1 with América in Cali and then winning 4-0 in Bogotá, which set up the next round on Junior’s side of the bracket.
Junior’s path now runs through one night at Romelio Martínez. A clean result sends Arias’ team into the semifinal and one step closer to the bicampeonato the club wants in the first semester of 2026.
