Fernando Ortiz is sending out a very clear message: if it worked against Universidad de Chile, he is not in the mood to fix it. Colo-Colo are expected to use the same setup this Sunday at Estadio Monumental against Audax Italiano, and that means Tomás Alarcón is heading back to the bench.
That is not a minor detail. Alarcón had accumulated the most minutes under Ortiz before the Superclásico, which makes this a notable shift even if it is not being framed as a punishment. The coach has simply leaned in a different direction since that derby, favouring quicker wing players such as Lautaro Pastrán and Leandro Hernández. In other words, this looks like a tactical preference, not a public demotion.
Ortiz is backing speed over structure
There is a logic to it. Colo-Colo’s Liga de Primera chase is still live, even with a 13-point gap over Universidad de Chile, so Ortiz is choosing a shape he clearly believes can keep the team sharp in transition and dangerous out wide. If the Superclásico lineup is the template, then the attack is being built around pace, width and more direct movement.
That leaves Alarcón in an awkward but still useful role. Ortiz has used him as a second-half option to add strength and recovery in midfield, which says plenty about how he is being valued right now. He is not out of the picture. He is just no longer first choice for the opening blast.
And that is where the debate gets interesting. Before the match against Universidad de Chile, Alarcón was the most-used player under Ortiz. Now he appears to be the insurance policy rather than the starting point. For a team that must keep winning to stay alive in the title race, this is a bold call — and one that will be judged immediately if Colo-Colo do not produce against Audax Italiano.
So, who starts? The answer points back to Ortiz’s Superclásico blueprint. Who sits? Tomás Alarcón. And if Colo-Colo get the result at Estadio Monumental, the coach will look justified. If they do not, this selection gamble will suddenly look a lot less neat.
