Universidad Catolica hosts O'Higgins with a chance to grab second place and lock up Copa Libertadores spot

The U's stumble in Concepcion left the door open for Universidad Catolica, and the Cruzados have no intention of letting the chance slip. This Monday, starting at 8:45 PM at Claro Arena, Daniel Garnero's side hosts O'Higgins with a real shot at climbing into second place in the Campeonato Nacional, a spot that currently comes with a direct ticket to the group stage of the Copa Libertadores.

Just a week ago, things looked very different. The loss to Nublense had complicated matters for UC, and it seemed like the coveted "Chile 2" spot was slipping further away by the week. But Chilean soccer turns quickly: the Cruzados got past a rescheduled match against Coquimbo Unido in a hard fought win, and at almost the same time, Universidad de Concepcion slowed the U down on its own turf. That combination of results gave Catolica the breathing room it needed.

If UC wins on Monday, it will draw level on points with the Azules and tighten the race for the Libertadores spot even further. That's no small thing given what's at stake for both clubs in these final rounds, not just the pride of finishing higher in the standings, but a direct ticket to the most important continental tournament for Chilean clubs.

For this matchup, Garnero will have to shuffle his lineup once again. He won't be able to count on Fernando Zuqui or Cristian Cuevas, both suspended, so the Argentine coach will need to rebuild the team with the pieces he has available. The likely lineup for La Franja would have Vicente Bernedo in goal; Sebastian Arancibia, Branco Ampuero, Agustin Garcia Basso and Eugenio Mena across the back line; Jhojan Valencia, Alfred Canales and Jimmy Martinez in midfield; and up top, Diego Corral, Fernando Zampedri and Clemente Montes.

Standing in their way will be an O'Higgins side that already beat Catolica 1-0 in the first half of the season, though the Rancagua club hasn't found the kind of consistency expected from a team with bigger ambitions. Los Celestes currently sit in 11th place with 24 points, nine behind the Cruzados, and their season has been a mix of sharp performances and others best forgotten.

The match will be officiated by Juan Lara Luco, a referee with experience at World Cup level, who will be in charge of a game that looks favorable for the home side on paper, but that in practice feels like one of those tests you simply cannot fail if you still want to keep the Libertadores dream alive.