Mauricio Pellegrino’s squad aims to bounce back after a trio of draws, leaning on renewed energy as they chase three points that could shift their momentum. The club’s image is shifting from the shadows toward the spotlight as they prepare for a crucial clash that could redefine their midseason trajectory.
The match will feature a decisive moment in the stage where Italian Audax and the University of Chile collide, a fixture that stands on the tenth round of the 2023 National Championship. The fixture list has the two teams converging at a moment of high anticipation for fans across Canada and the United States following a busy start to the campaign.
Mauricio Pellegrino’s side arrives buoyed by progress in the Copa Chile, having secured a historic 0-10 victory over Chimbarongo FC in the regional phase of the South Central Zone. That result marked one of the club’s most memorable wins in recent memory, surpassed only by the 14-1 triumph over Santiago Morning B in 1937 and the 12-2 win against Audax Italiano B in a bygone era of the club’s history. The scale of the win underscores the team’s potential when execution aligns with confidence.
On the other side, Manuel Fernández’s team advanced in the same competition by defeating Deportes Recoleta 3-2, advancing to the next round of the traditional tournament. In league play, the Blues have settled into a run of three consecutive draws, most recently a 0-0 stalemate with Deportes Copiapó in a tense, high-stakes match held in Valparaíso. With 15 points, they sit fifth, six adrift of the leaders Huachipato. Audax Italiano, meanwhile, sits near the bottom after seven rounds, collecting seven points and struggling to find a winning touch.
The most recent meeting between the clubs occurred on October 3, a 3-2 victory at Santa Laura that featured goals from Matías Sepúlveda, Osvaldo Bosso, and Jorge Henríquez for the home side, while Cristian Palacios answered with a brace for the visitors. That result extended a winless streak for the Blues against Audax Italiano that dates back to December 2020. The current encounter promises to add another chapter to a rivalry that has produced memorable moments for fans across leagues and regions.
ITALIAN AUDAX:
To confirm.
UNIVERSITY OF CHILE:
To confirm.