Independiente Medellín will face Once Caldas this Saturday at 8:10 p.m. at the Atanasio Girardot, and the match comes with a clear objective for Amaranto Perea’s side: get closer to the 28-point mark that would move it toward the quadrangulares.
DIM enters the game with 23 points in the Clausura, which leaves it five points short of that target. The team also needs to respond after being eliminated by Atlético Nacional in the Copa BetPlay quarterfinals on Wednesday, so the league match arrives at a useful moment for a reset.
Why the match matters for DIM
The table situation explains the urgency. The article says the team is two wins away from ratifying one of the quadrangular spots, so every point now carries extra weight. With the Clausura entering a decisive stretch, this is the kind of match that can shape the final weeks of the campaign.
There is also a familiar opponent on the other side. Since March 16, 2024, when Once Caldas beat Independiente Medellín 2-1, the Medellín side has handled the matchup better. In the 2025 Apertura, DIM beat Once Caldas 2-0 and also drew 1-1 in Manizales. In the 2025 Clausura, it was even more emphatic: a 1-5 win at Palogrande.
What to watch at Atanasio Girardot
Medellín has created plenty of chances, but the production has not always matched the volume. The team has scored 21 goals in 13 league matches, a total that shows both its attacking activity and the need to be more efficient in front of goal.
That is the next challenge for Perea and his squad. A home match against Once Caldas gives DIM a chance to turn recent control into points, recover from the Copa BetPlay exit, and keep building toward the 28-point line that would strengthen its cuadrangulares push.
