Colo Colo Beats Universidad de Chile 2-1 in Superclasico No. 200, Stretches Unbeaten Run to 10

A 13-point lead and ten games without a loss. With those numbers on the board, it's hard to imagine a better moment for Colo Colo, which just added something that doesn't show up in any stat sheet but carries just as much weight: Fernando Ortiz's first win as the club's coach in a Superclasico.

El Cacique beat Universidad de Chile 2-1 at the Estadio Nacional, in matchday 20 of the 2026 Liga de Primera, in the 200th edition of the country's hottest derby. It wasn't just any win. It arrived with the title race already all but settled in favor of the albos, who now hold a 13-point cushion over their closest pursuer, which happens to be the blue side of Santiago.

What stands out is how that gap was built. Colo Colo stumbled against Palestino at the Monumental in matchday 10, and hasn't lost since: wins over Universidad de Concepcion (2-1), Nublense (6-2), Universidad Catolica (2-1), Deportes La Serena (4-2) and Cobresal (3-0) closed out the first half of the season, and the run continued into the second half with victories over Limache (3-1), Everton (4-3) and Union La Calera (2-1). O'Higgins was the only team to take points off Colo Colo along the way, with a late equalizer, but even that couldn't break the unbeaten streak. With the win over the U, that run has now reached 10 games without a loss.

For some context: the bar was set sky-high by Coquimbo Unido, the 2025 champion, which put together a streak of 21 straight wins. Can this Colo Colo side get anywhere close to that mark? It's still too early to say, but the momentum certainly helps.

Ortiz, Between Composure and Joy

At his press conference, Ortiz broke down the match with a level head. "We had our chance in the first 45 minutes and we found the goal. We tried to add to it but couldn't get another. Then in the second half, they came out very strong. Credit to them, the push from the home crowd kept us from finding the clarity we needed to handle that," he explained.

The Argentine coach didn't hide his satisfaction with the team effort, including players who weren't even part of the matchday squad. "I'm leaving happy because we won, and what stood out was the commitment from my players, not just the ones who start, but also the ones who are out and the ones who didn't even make the squad. I'm happy about that."

Asked about Lautaro Pastran, who turned in a standout performance, Ortiz didn't hesitate. "We knew how to put Lautaro in the right spot at the right time, and congratulations to him. And to our fans, enjoy this, because you don't win a derby every day, especially with the rivalry that exists in this city. Enjoy it. This is for them."

On the other side, Fernando Gago chose not to get drawn into any battle of tactical egos. "I consider Fer a great coach and a great person. Our job, the work we do off the field, is to try to figure out and find the best way to make the team function. But to say I've beaten him tactically doesn't seem right to me, out of the respect Fernando deserves."

"Overconfidence Kills a Man"

With a 13-point cushion in the bank, the temptation to ease up is real. Ortiz made sure to shut that down immediately, echoing what club president Anibal Mosa has also been repeating: nothing has been won yet.

"Overconfidence kills a man. On Wednesday we have an important game against Union Espanola. Right now they're enjoying this, but they know tomorrow they have to train in the afternoon so we can win on Wednesday. Simple as that."Fernando Ortiz

On the team's consistency, the coach boiled it down to work and patience. "Don't forget what our president said, that they trusted the coach. Sometimes processes take a little longer than you'd like, and there's still everything left to be decided, but the work, the trust, the dedication, the humility, there are a million things where right now the team speaks for itself."

There's no letup in the schedule: Union Espanola comes to town next Wednesday, and Colo Colo is already thinking about extending a streak that, little by little, is starting to eye Coquimbo Unido's historic record.