The Blues are set to wrap up their summer friendlies with a match against the Matador as they prepare for the upcoming Championship. However, they will not be able to play because the venue is unavailable. This situation leaves the team waiting for a suitable replacement date while staff reassesses the squad’s readiness ahead of the domestic campaign.
In the middle of the preseason, the team from the University of Chile faced its final warmup match, but travel and scheduling constraints disrupted the plan. With the stadium not available, the scheduled fixture against the workshops in Santa Laura was canceled. Coach Mauricio Pellegrino faces a pause in testing tactical variants as the National Championship opener approaches, now slated for January 23 against Huachipato. The overarching goal remains simple: return to the field with a strong, competitive edge after four years marked by battles against relegation and a fighting spirit that never waned. Reprogramming remains possible, though it is unlikely to feature any extraordinary lineup changes for the early stages of the season.
Earlier, in the Coquimbo 2023 Summer Tournament, the Blues encountered a rough start. They were defeated 2-0 by a refreshed Pirata side, raising questions about the squad’s form. In their second appearance, they managed a stalemate against Rosario Central after an early lead courtesy of Cristian Palacios. The Matador, meanwhile, had just fallen to Catholic University, who capitalized on a late first-half goal by Gonzalo Tapia, following a precise shot to the right corner from Guido Herrera after a pass from Alexander Aravena on the left.
The broadcast of the Blues versus the Matador was available on television through TNT Sports HD and TNT 2. Viewers could also stream the match via TNT Sports Stadium and access coverage on mobile devices through TNT GO. For subscribers of TNTHD or TNT2, the game could be viewed on platforms such as Movistar Play, Entel TV, DirecTV GO, Claro Video, VTR Play, and Zapping, ensuring fans could follow the action across multiple channels.
(Goal)