Once Caldas – Millonarios: Millonarios arrives surging, but loses Leonardo Castro right before a must-have trip to Palogrande
Once Caldas – Millonarios is set for Saturday, March 21 at Estadio Palogrande on Matchday 13 of Liga BetPlay 2026-I, with the match scheduled for 7: 20 p. m. ET and broadcast on WIN and WIN+.
What time is Once Caldas – Millonarios, and what’s at stake in Matchday 13?
Once Caldas hosts Millonarios in Manizales at Estadio Palogrande on Saturday, March 21. The kickoff time listed in Colombia is 6: 20 p. m., which corresponds to 7: 20 p. m. ET. The game will be available on WIN and WIN+.
Once Caldas enters the match in third place and is pursuing a result that would move the team closer to clinching a place in the playoffs. Millonarios arrives “in an upswing” after recent wins over Atlético Nacional in both CONMEBOL Sudamericana and Liga BetPlay 2026-I, but the club is still chasing a needed result to keep its qualification options alive.
In the most recent league outing mentioned, Millonarios defeated Atlético Nacional 3-0 and is ninth with 17 points. Once Caldas, meanwhile, drew 1-1 away to Atlético Bucaramanga.
Why is Leonardo Castro out, and what does that change for Millonarios?
Millonarios will be without Leonardo Castro for the trip after the club issued a statement explaining that the forward “presents a muscular load and, as a preventive measure, will not be considered for this match. ” The absence drew attention when the team’s call-up list for Friday, March 20 did not include him.
Castro had been part of the scoring in Millonarios’ last league match, the 3-0 victory over Atlético Nacional, alongside Rodrigo Contreras and Mateo García.
With Castro unavailable, one projected alternative mentioned is Jorge Hurtado Cabezas as a potential starter alongside Rodrigo Contreras. The same account notes Hurtado Cabezas has not yet scored his first goal.
Who are the key goal threats: Dayro Moreno vs Rodrigo Contreras
Once Caldas’ Dayro Moreno has eight goals for the club this semester and sits second in the scoring chart. For Millonarios, Rodrigo Contreras is described as “on fire” in front of goal, with seven goals in 11 matches.
The last time the teams met was in October, when the match at El Campín ended 0-0. This time, the setting shifts to Palogrande with Once Caldas positioned near the top of the table and Millonarios trying to convert momentum from its recent run into points that keep qualification hopes intact.
Saturday’s matchup in Manizales places form, standings pressure, and a key late roster change into the same 90 minutes: Once Caldas – Millonarios now comes with an added storyline as Millonarios navigates the trip without Leonardo Castro.
