Reigning champions Santa Fe are set to welcome back a majority of their regular starters for their upcoming Colombian league match against Deportes Tolima in Ibagué.
Key players including Andrés Mosquera, Omar Fernández, Cristian Mafla, and Elvis Perlaza have been named in the squad for the team’s second match of the season. Their return to competition was delayed to allow for recovery following the demanding final victory over Medellín.
The squad also includes new midfielder Yairo Moreno, who is yet to make his 2025 debut. However, the team will be without captain and top scorer Hugo Rodallega. The club’s medical department confirmed he underwent surgery for a fractured nasal bone and will require a period of rest before rejoining team training.
Santa Fe began their title defense with a 2-2 away draw against Deportivo Pereira. Fielding an alternate lineup, they managed to secure a point after goalkeeper Weimar Asprilla was sent off. “We lacked the strength to maintain our position and counter-attack, which was logical playing the entire second half with ten men,” explained coach Jorge Bava.
Meanwhile, Tolima started their campaign with a 3-2 defeat to Deportivo Pasto in coach Lucas González’s debut, conceding a decisive goal in stoppage time due to defensive lapses. “We need to evaluate these initial matches, see how the players are adapting to the new strategy, and quickly correct specific aspects of our game,” González stated. In recent days, the team has also incorporated midfielder Sebastián Guzmán, who joined on a free transfer from Atlético Nacional.
The match is scheduled for Friday, July 18, at 8:00 PM at the Murillo Toro stadium.
Projected Lineups
Tolima: Balanta; Hurtado, Angulo, Quiñones, Velásquez; Nieto, Rovira, Valencia, Quiñones, González; Parra.
Santa Fe: Mosquera; Perlaza, Olivera, Scarpeta, Mafla; Torres, J.Torres, Fernández, Mosquera; Rodríguez.
