Colón de Santa Fe
- Colón ended 2025 with a rare 1-0 victory over Defensores Unidos but had otherwise endured a disappointing season in which they achieved few notable results.
- New manager Ezequiel Medrán will take them into 2026 with a renewed and hopefully much improved squad in a bid to return to the top flight.
- Colón will line up with five at the back on Saturday, with all the focus on defensive solidity and ball retention as Medrán tries to get his new-look side to play his methodical style.
Deportivo Madryn
- Madryn will probably stick with their 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 systems, in which they are compact at the base and try to play direct to their tall forwards.
- They will also seek to counter attack whenever they get the ball back and their flexibility and ability to do that were key to their excellent playoff run in 2025.
- Leandro ‘Tano’ Gracián will remain in charge for Madryn after guiding them to the final of the play-offs, where they just missed out on promotion after a 1-1 home draw and 2-0 away defeat to Estudiantes (Rio Cuarto).
Head-to-Head
Colón de Santa Fe have no clear edge over Deportivo Madryn in their two previous meetings in the Primera Nacional in 2024; both matches were draws ( 0-0 , 1-1 ) and there’s little to choose between the teams for this early-season fixture.
Key Players
- Christian Bernardi is a key figure as a goalscorer and a provider of set pieces, while Ignacio Lago is a regular attacking outlet.
- Luis Silba scored some vital goals in the playoffs for ‘El Depo’ and looks a good option in anytime scorer bets for this match.
- Nazareno Solís offers a touch of magic in the number ten position and Diego Crego’s pace from the right wing adds another dimension to their attack.
- Goalkeeper Yair Bonnin was a standout player during the playoff surge, making several big saves and holding things together at the other end.
Betting Insights
- Backing the under 2.5 goals looks the best way to go given the odds on offer of 1.27 for under 2.5 goals.
- Both teams have been in low-scoring matches recently and, although there could be thunderstorms around Santa Fe on Saturday, the conditions could add unpredictability and affect the flow of the match, which is likely to be a cagey affair until someone gets a breakthrough.
Prediction
A draw , possibly with Colon edging it, looks likely given their respective forms and these odds.
