Universidad de Chile needs a response against Coquimbo at the Estadio Nacional

Two straight losses sting, especially when you go from chasing Colo Colo at the top to sitting third in the standings within a matter of days. That is exactly what happened to Universidad de Chile, and that is why this Saturday, September 6, the club arrives with real urgency to snap its losing streak against Coquimbo Unido, in a matchup for matchday 22 of the 2026 Liga de Primera.

The setting will be the Estadio Nacional, with kickoff at 8:00 p.m. Chile time (9:00 p.m. in Argentina and Uruguay). A match that looked routine on paper before the schedule and recent results turned it into an early must-win for the Chuncho.

A bruised Chuncho in need of a response

La U comes in banged up. First it fell in the Superclasico against Colo Colo, then lost again at Estadio Ester Roa against Universidad de Concepcion, in matchday 21. Two stumbles that cost the club dearly in the table: from fighting for first place to watching from third. With that backdrop, the goal for Saturday is simple to state and hard to execute: win and stop the bleeding.

To do that, Universidad de Chile is leaning on proven names. Eduardo Vargas, Charles Aranguiz and Matias Zaldivia stand out as the players the team needs to be sharp and decisive to turn the rough patch around.

Coquimbo arrives with momentum

On the other side, the Pirata comes in with a different feeling. It just beat Universidad de Concepcion 1-0 at the Sanchez Rumoroso, an agonizing result that let it settle one of the makeup games it still owed, from matchday 16. That win, tight but valuable, gives Coquimbo an extra boost ahead of the trip to the Nacional.

On the southern side, the names to watch are Diego Sanchez, Cristian Zavala and Nicolas Johansen, players who have been central to the team's good run of form.

The most recent meeting

The last time these two met in the top flight was on March 14 of this year, in matchday 7. That day, with Jhon Valladares as La U's interim coach, Coquimbo took all three points with a tight 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Maximiliano Guerrero. It is a result La U will keep in mind, and combined with the recent slump, it adds extra spice to this clash at the Nacional.

Will the class of Vargas and company be enough to halt the Pirata's good run? The Nacional will have the answer this Saturday.