Deportivo Pasto
- Deportivo Pasto’s opening 8 games of the 2026 season have gone well, with an unbeaten home record (W2, D2) and 15 points from 8 matches, combining for a 2nd-place standing in Colombia’s Primera A.
- This has been the result of Jonathan Risueño’s structure-first, balanced tactics which have been in place since December 2025.
- Risueño’s team will look to control the tempo and flow of games with possession, using their wide runners and creative midfielders to break the opposition’s structure.
- Pasto are unbeaten at home, but have drawn their last 2 games at the Estadio Departamental Libertad, and they’ll hope to get back to winning ways against Cucuta on Sunday.
Cucuta Deportivo
- Richard Páez’s Cucuta Deportivo have shown more grit since the veteran coach took over in February 2026.
- Their games are generally more compact, with the team usually setting up in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 system, looking to maintain structure at the back and counter attack when necessary.
- Páez’s team broke a poor run of form with a 3-2 home win over Tolima, but remain winless in their last 2 away games (D1, L1).
- Moreover, Cucuta sit 17th with 6 points from 8 games.
Key Players
- Andrey Estupinan will be the main goal threat for the home team, after bagging 5 goals in 6 league games this season.
- Luifer Hernandez is the main weapon for the visitors, having netted 5 in 7 for Cucuta this term.
Betting Insights
- Cucuta Deportivo’s away form has been poor, as mentioned above.
- They’re conceding an average of 2 goals per game, while scoring 1.33.
- Páez’s compactness and set piece focus can be a real problem for more patient sides, and he’ll have his team set up to punish the hosts on the break on Sunday.
- Pasto have been very solid at home, conceding just 2 goals in 4 matches, but they’re yet to face a team that has been this compact in the league so far.
Prediction
- Cucuta have no wins on the road in Primera A 2026 (D1, L2) and are facing an unbeaten at-home team that has been impressing so far.
- I’m willing to bet on Pasto to take all three points at 1.8, while the ‘Unders’ also looks a strong play at 1.57.
