América returns to Pascual Guerrero unbeaten to host Alianza on Matchday 9

Unbeaten, in first place and with the tournament's best attack: that's how América arrives at the Pascual Guerrero to host Alianza this Thursday, September 3, in a match that kicks off at 4:00 p.m. for Matchday 9 of the BetPlay League and will be broadcast live on WIN.

There's a detail that adds extra weight to this match beyond the standings: it marks the scarlet squad's return to its stadium following the earthquake that shook Cali in August. The homecoming won't be complete, though, since capacity will be reduced and only a couple of stands have been opened to the public.

Strictly in terms of what happens on the field, the gap between the two teams is enormous. América tops the standings with 17 points through seven matchdays and remains undefeated. Alianza, meanwhile, sits in 18th place with just two points and still hasn't won a single match this season.

David González's side also boasts the most productive attack in all of Colombian soccer: 17 goals in seven matches. The team didn't win in its last outing, but it did pick up a point, salvaging a 2-2 draw on the road against Jaguares in Montería, a result the coach himself put into perspective.

I think we ended up salvaging a point that keeps us on top, keeps us unbeaten, and now we focus on the next objective.David González

That draw also brought a bit of good news: Yeison Guzmán scored from the penalty spot late in the match and now has four goals in the tournament, making him one of the names to watch this Thursday.

On the other side, Alianza's main offensive threat is Felipe Pardo, who scored his team's only goal in a rough 5-1 loss to Nacional in Valledupar. That result also carried an extra blow for the Valle del Cauca-Santander club: the departure of head coach Camilo Ayala.

The other side of the coin: América's defense also has unfinished business

It's not all celebration for the home side. América's defense has generally been solid, but it has conceded four goals in its most recent outings, and its coach was self-critical about one specific issue: set pieces.

We didn't defend set pieces well. I think both of their goals came from set pieces. Teams hadn't been scoring on us that way, and I believe those are the first two goals we've conceded from set pieces all season.David González

Is that specific vulnerability enough for Alianza to find its first win of the season? The most recent meeting between the two sides doesn't offer much hope for the visitors: on February 28, 2026, América won 3-0 with goals from Yeison Guzmán, Jorge Valencia and Rafael Carrascal.

With the league leader looking to extend its unbeaten run and a rival desperate for points to climb out of the bottom of the table, the Pascual Guerrero opens its doors again, even if only partially, for a match featuring two completely different storylines.