The encounter between Once Caldas and Junior in the Colombia Primera A on 11.05.2026 is set to be a thrilling match. With both teams displaying comparable skill levels this season, our in-depth analysis explores what each team needs to do to secure a win. We’ve reviewed previous matchups, current form, and key players from both Once Caldas and Junior. Be sure to read our prediction, as it could help guide your decisions on which team, Once Caldas or Junior, might have the upper hand.
Standings of both teams
| № | Team | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | GF/GA | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atletico Nacional | 19 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 35/15 | 40 |
| 2 | Junior | 19 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 31/24 | 35 |
| 3 | Deportivo Pasto | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 29/25 | 34 |
| 4 | America de Cali | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 25/15 | 33 |
| 5 | Once Caldas | 19 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 31/22 | 33 |
| 6 | Deportes Tolima | 19 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 27/17 | 31 |
Key Player Statistics: Once Caldas vs Junior
Once Caldas vs Junior Historical Match Results
| League | Home | Away | Date | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primera A | Once Caldas | Junior | 13.02.2026 | 2-1 |
| Primera A | Once Caldas | Junior | 27.07.2025 | 2-2 |
| Primera A | Junior | Once Caldas | 14.02.2025 | 2-0 |
| Primera A | Junior | Once Caldas | 02.12.2024 | 1-2 |
| Primera A | Once Caldas | Junior | 28.11.2024 | 2-2 |
| Primera A | Once Caldas | Junior | 13.11.2024 | 0-0 |
| Primera A | Junior | Once Caldas | 21.04.2024 | 1-0 |
| Primera A | Junior | Once Caldas | 22.10.2023 | 1-0 |
| Primera A | Once Caldas | Junior | 07.05.2023 | 2-0 |
| Primera A | Junior | Once Caldas | 09.08.2022 | 1-2 |
| League | Home | Away | Date | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primera A | Once Caldas | Atletico Nacional | 02.05.2026 | 1-0 |
| Primera A | Águilas Doradas | Once Caldas | 27.04.2026 | 2-2 |
| Primera A | Once Caldas | Internacional de Bogota | 21.04.2026 | 2-1 |
| Primera A | Deportivo Pereira | Once Caldas | 10.04.2026 | 0-0 |
| Primera A | Once Caldas | Independiente Medellin | 03.04.2026 | 1-1 |
| Primera A | Llaneros | Once Caldas | 30.03.2026 | 1-1 |
| Primera A | Once Caldas | Millonarios | 22.03.2026 | 1-4 |
| Primera A | Bucaramanga | Once Caldas | 19.03.2026 | 1-1 |
| Primera A | Once Caldas | Deportivo Pasto | 14.03.2026 | 4-2 |
| Primera A | Deportivo Cali | Once Caldas | 07.03.2026 | 0-2 |
| League | Home | Away | Date | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONMEBOL Libertadores | Junior | Cerro Porteno | 08.05.2026 | 0-1 |
| Primera A | Junior | Deportivo Pasto | 04.05.2026 | 4-3 |
| CONMEBOL Libertadores | Sporting Cristal | Junior | 29.04.2026 | 2-0 |
| Primera A | Cucuta | Junior | 25.04.2026 | 1-1 |
| Primera A | Junior | Llaneros | 20.04.2026 | 2-0 |
| CONMEBOL Libertadores | Cerro Porteno | Junior | 15.04.2026 | 1-0 |
| Primera A | Águilas Doradas | Junior | 12.04.2026 | 0-3 |
| CONMEBOL Libertadores | Junior | Palmeiras | 09.04.2026 | 1-1 |
| Primera A | Junior | Deportivo Cali | 04.04.2026 | 1-2 |
| Primera A | Internacional de Bogota | Junior | 30.03.2026 | 0-1 |
Comparative Team Statistics: Once Caldas VS Junior
Last 20 Matches Statistics: Once Caldas vs Junior
Bookies' predictions
Once Caldas
Betting Intelligence: Once Caldas vs Junior
There are matches that matter. And then there are matches like this one — Once Caldas hosting Junior in the Colombia Primera A, with just two points separating second from fifth place. This isn't just football. This is a six-pointer that could reshape the entire top half of the table.
Once Caldas come into this on the back of a confidence-boosting 1-0 win over Atlético Nacional. That result matters. Beating the biggest club in Colombia at home does something to a dressing room. You can feel the momentum building in Manizales.
Junior, meanwhile, sit second with 35 points from 19 games — two ahead of Once Caldas in fifth. They're a team with real firepower, having scored 31 goals this season. But here's what the mainstream narrative misses: Junior have been leaking goals too. Twenty-four conceded is the joint-worst record among the top five sides, and Once Caldas have kept only 22 against. That defensive edge could be decisive tonight.
Here's what you need to watch for — the head-to-head at this venue is absolutely fascinating. In the last three meetings at Manizales, Once Caldas have won two and drawn one. Junior haven't won here since well before that run started. Home advantage at the Estadio Palogrande is very real in this fixture.
Don't be fooled by Junior's strong away record elsewhere this season. This ground, this crowd, this rivalry — it's a different animal entirely. The Barranquilla side also just returned from a Copa Libertadores trip to Lima, where they lost 2-0 to Sporting Cristal. Tired legs are a genuine factor here, and I can't ignore it.
One surprising stat worth flagging for bettors: four of the last six head-to-head meetings have produced over 2.5 goals. Both teams score freely, both have shown defensive vulnerabilities on the road. The Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals markets look genuinely attractive at standard odds.
On discipline, Once Caldas midfielder J. Castañeo already carries four yellows and a red this season across just eleven appearances. If Junior put him under pressure early, a card before halftime feels very possible. Worth a look in the player bookings market.
My prediction? Once Caldas win this 2-1. The home advantage, the momentum, the head-to-head history — it all points the same direction. At odds of 2.12, that represents genuine value for a side that's beaten Junior on this ground twice in their last three meetings here.
Saturday night in Manizales. Top-five football. Genuine stakes. This one won't disappoint.
What's Your Pick?
Where to Bet on Once Caldas vs Junior
Our Once Caldas vs Junior betting prediction
Team Lineups and Player Details:
| Name | Country | Age | Position | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Moreno | Colombia | 40 | Attacker | 178 | 74 |
| L. Sánchez | Colombia | 25 | Midfielder | 171 | 66 |
| J. Aguirre | Colombia | 33 | Goalkeeper | 181 | 70 |
| E. Navarro | Colombia | 26 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
| I. Rojas | Colombia | 28 | Midfielder | 180 | 77 |
| D. Quiñónes | Colombia | 30 | Attacker | 173 | 79 |
| M. Barrios | Colombia | 35 | Midfielder | 163 | 61 |
| J. Quiñónes | Colombia | 25 | Midfielder | 170 | n/a |
| J. Cuesta | Colombia | 28 | Defender | 179 | 73 |
| J. Zapata | Colombia | 26 | Midfielder | n/a | n/a |
| J. Cardona | Colombia | 27 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
| Pipe Gómez | Colombia | 26 | Attacker | 173 | 68 |
| E. Beltrán | Colombia | 26 | Midfielder | 176 | n/a |
| J. Alvarado | Colombia | 26 | Midfielder | n/a | n/a |
| J. Parra | Colombia | 25 | Goalkeeper | 184 | 71 |
| K. Cuesta | Colombia | 26 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
| Y. Valencia | Colombia | 21 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
| M. Zuleta | Colombia | 23 | Midfielder | 170 | n/a |
| K. Tamayo | Colombia | 26 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
| J. Castaño | Colombia | 27 | Defender | 182 | n/a |
| Name | Country | Age | Position | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y. Chará | Colombia | 35 | Midfielder | 168 | 77 |
| L. Muriel | Colombia | 35 | Attacker | 179 | 79 |
| G. Celis | Colombia | 33 | Midfielder | 177 | 74 |
| J. Ríos | Colombia | 34 | Midfielder | 175 | 72 |
| J. Pestaña | Colombia | 28 | Defender | 186 | 84 |
| J. Martínez | Colombia | 32 | Goalkeeper | 185 | 72 |
| B. Castrillón | Colombia | 27 | Midfielder | 169 | 57 |
| T. Gutiérrez | Colombia | 41 | Forward | 181 | 73 |
| C. Barrios | Colombia | 27 | Attacker | 163 | 55 |
| Jesús Rivas | Colombia | 29 | Midfielder | 172 | 67 |
| E. Herrera | Colombia | 27 | Defender | 170 | 70 |
| J. Peña | Colombia | 26 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
| M. Silveira | Uruguay | 26 | Goalkeeper | 187 | 88 |
| Y. Súarez | Colombia | 28 | Defender | 174 | 68 |
| D. Rivera | Colombia | 27 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
| K. Pérez | Colombia | 28 | Midfielder | 167 | 69 |
| L. Monzón | Uruguay | 24 | Defender | 186 | 79 |
| J. Guerrero | Colombia | 25 | Defender | n/a | n/a |
| J. Sarmiento | Colombia | 26 | Midfielder | 179 | 76 |
| D. Villarreal | n/a | Midfielder | n/a | n/a |
Once Caldas vs Junior match odds
Best Betting Sites for Once Caldas vs Junior
As excitement builds for the Colombia Primera A match between Once Caldas and Junior, ensure you're betting smart. At Betzoid, we've highlighted three leading betting sites offering top odds and bonuses for this specific encounter. These picks will suit both new and experienced bettors.
