The upcoming 183rd edition of the Classic between Catholic University and Colo Colo takes center stage this Saturday at Santa Laura, as two historic giants collide in the Chilean First Division. The Crusaders, guided by Ariel Holan, will step into the Independencia venue aiming to snap a pair of draws that have lingered through the 2023 National Championship, most recently a 1-1 stalemate with Magallanes in La Florida Bicentennial. That result left Catholic University in second place with 18 points, three behind the leaders, Huachipato.
Meanwhile, Colo Colo, led by Gustavo Quinteros, arrive on the back of a narrow win over the Steel Team in a tense, fast-paced encounter that sought to break a skid of two consecutive results without a win. With that triumph, Colo Colo rose to seventh on the table, accumulating 14 points through the early part of the season. The clash promises a fierce battle as both teams look to assert their dominance over a rival with a storied history.
Across history, these clubs have faced each other 182 times, with Catholic University holding a significant edge in victories and goals: 79 wins and 322 total goals for Catholic, against 53 wins and 254 goals for Colo Colo. The teams have drawn on 50 occasions, underscoring a long-standing rivalry that has delivered dramatic moments on big stages. The most recent encounter occurred on October 4, ending in a 0-0 draw at the Monumental on matchday 26.
It is also worth noting that the current Catholic University coach previously led Colo Colo, a fact that adds another layer of intrigue to this rivalry. Their past meeting at Pedrero in March 2019 saw Colo Colo prevail 3-2, a reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in this classic matchup.
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY:
To confirm.
COLO COLO:
To confirm.
Citations will be provided for reference.