Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Colombian Primera A match.
Both Deportes Tolima and Deportivo Pereira picked up victories in the third round, placing them in the upper half of the standings. However, it's far too early to say either squad has firmly established themselves among the frontrunners — even three wins from three wouldn't guarantee that standing, and neither team has achieved such a start so far.
Deportes Tolima
For Deportes Tolima, their recent win marked their first of the current league campaign. It’s notable that they featured in the recent Apertura play-offs — unlike Deportivo Pereira. After two straight defeats, this result brought some relief, particularly given the modest expectations going into the match. The win came away at a solid mid-table opponent in Alianza Petrolera. Their disappointing performance in the Apertura semi-finals was largely due to underwhelming home form, where they collected just four points from a possible nine.
Deportivo Pereira
Deportivo Pereira missed out on the Apertura play-offs, with their away struggles playing a central role in that outcome. While they ended sixth in the home standings and remained unbeaten at their own ground, their form on the road was poor — their only away victory being a narrow 1:0 against Atlético Bucaramanga. That pattern has continued into the Clausura: a draw against reigning champions Independiente Santa Fe and a 2:1 win over another top side, Atlético Nacional, both came at the Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas. On the road, however, they suffered a goalless loss to Alianza Petrolera.
Deportes Tolima vs Deportivo Pereira Prediction
Alianza Petrolera provides a fair point of comparison between the two. One of them managed to defeat them, while the other failed to do so. Also worth noting is their most recent head-to-head at Deportes Tolima’s ground, where the hosts claimed a 2:1 victory. The signs suggest they are better positioned.
