Mauricio Pellegrino’s team will push to solidify their spot in the upper part of the table, aiming to maintain momentum and avoid slipping in the standings.
University of Chile hosts La Calera this Thursday in a clash that marks the seventh round of the 2023 National Championship, a match that could swing the balance in the early-season race and signal each side’s ambitions for the coming weeks.
The Blues arrived at Santa Laura with a clear objective: extend their winning streak and close the gap on Universidad Católica at the top. Under Pellegrino, the squad heads into this duel in confident mood after a convincing 1-3 road win over Curicó Unido at La Granja. That result lifted them to third place with 12 points, just one behind the leaders, a position that underscores how competitive the league is this season and how tightly packed the table can be after every round.
THE FORMATIONS AND REPLACEMENTS
In contrast, Cementeros are intent on recovering their rhythm after back-to-back draws, the latest coming away from home against Ñublense at the Nicolás Chahuán Nazar. Despite the stalemates, they remain safely within the international cup zone thanks to a solid points tally and positive momentum built over the opening fixtures. It is worth noting that in the last five meetings between these two teams, the balance tilts decisively toward the blue side of the city, with La U taking four of those encounters. In fact, Caleranos have not beaten their rivals since November 2020, a statistic that adds extra bite to this rivalry and raises expectations for a tense encounter this week.
The upcoming match will be broadcast on TNT Sports HD and TNT 2, with streaming options available through Estadio TNT Sports. For mobile viewers, TNT GO provides another route to watch the action. Subscribers can also access TNT HD or TNT2 through Movistar Play, Entel TV, DirecTV GO, Claro Video, VTR Play, and Zapping, ensuring fans have multiple ways to follow the game in real time.
The encounter promises to showcase a tactical duel between two teams that value organization and forward intent. Expect the home side to leverage quick transitions and high pressing when out of possession, while the visitors will look to control the tempo and exploit spaces behind the full-backs. The coaching staffs will likely emphasize discipline in the half-spaces and a patient build-up from the center backs, aiming to unlock compact lines with the right runner to stretch the defense. Both squads have a wealth of attacking options, and the match could hinge on the ability of creative players to unlock doors in the final third and convert chances into decisive goals.
With the calendar advancing, this fixture stands out as a key indicator of where each club stands in the early season, especially given the close margins at the top of the table. A win for the Blues would reinforce their title-contending narrative, while a positive result for La Calera could push them further up and into the conversation for sustained top-half performance. The atmosphere at Estadio Nacional and its surroundings tends to rise for matches of this importance, and fans will be looking for a display that blends resilience with an edge in attack. The on-pitch narrative will be complemented by the broader context of the season, where consistency over the 90 minutes often carries more weight than bursts of brilliance in isolated moments.
In summary, the Thursday fixture carries significant implications for both teams as they navigate the mid-season section of the campaign. The contest will test not only tactical preparation and player quality but also the mental resolve required to maintain momentum in a tightly contested league. The outcome could help shape the direction of each club over the next stretch of matches and set the tone for the remainder of the season, with supporters eager to see which side will claim a vital foothold in the race toward the championship.
Source: Goal