Junior looks to snap out of its slump against Once Caldas in Liga BetPlay 2026-II

Junior can't afford any more scares. The Barranquilla club, which entered the second half of the season carrying the defending champion's tag, is going through one of those stretches where everything seems to go wrong, and this Sunday it gets another chance to stop the bleeding when it hosts Once Caldas at the Romelio Martinez stadium, in matchday 6 of the Liga BetPlay 2026-II.

Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. (Colombia time) on Sunday, August 23, and the match will be broadcast live on WIN+.

A Junior side in need of a response

It's hard to believe, but the team that lifted the last league title still hasn't tasted victory this season. The Tiburon has racked up two losses and sits uncomfortably close to the bottom of the table, an unfamiliar spot for a defending champion. As if that weren't enough, the elimination at the hands of Barranquilla FC in the Copa BetPlay landed like an extra blow, an exit nobody in the city saw coming and one that has raised more questions than answers about how this team is functioning.

Standing in the way is a Once Caldas side hungry for something different: a spot among the top eight. The Manizales club knows a win in Barranquilla would leave it in a much more comfortable position heading into the stretch run, so it won't be giving anything away.

Sunday's key names

On the red and white side, all eyes are on Luis Fernando Muriel. The forward was the team's top scorer last season and showed once again that he's still sharp when he scored one of Junior's goals in the cup elimination against Barranquilla FC. If the Tiburon wants to break out of its rough patch, much of the answer will come from his boots.

For Once Caldas, the player to watch is Andres Roa. The midfielder already has two goals so far this season and has become a key piece for a team that needs players who can show up in the opponent's box.

Recent form and head to head

Recent results haven't helped Barranquilla's confidence: Junior is coming off a home loss to Millonarios, a defeat that deepened the frustration among the fan base. Once Caldas, meanwhile, arrives after a road draw against Jaguares, a result that doesn't fully move the needle toward its goal but doesn't set it back either.

The most recent meeting between the two sides suggests this could be a tight contest: the last time they met, back in May 2026, the match ended 2-2. With Junior in need of three points and Once Caldas pushing for a top eight finish, the Romelio Martinez promises the kind of match you don't want to look away from.