Envigado are a curious case. They’ve spent the last 15 years playing in the Colombian top flight since, interestingly, James Rodríguez helped the Antioquia-based team to promotion in 2007. Yet they have no interest in winning the league. In fact, if they’re having a good season and look like possibly mounting a title challenge, they often crumble at the crucial time. The reason for this is that their business model is simply to blood new talent to put in the shop window, not win titles. The money made from each player sale gets ploughed back into their academy and so the cycle continues. Every single season, Envigado boast the lowest average squad age for players in the top flight. Players know they will get a chance at Envigado. They know the scouts will be watching.

This season looks like a particularly vintage year. Several players look like ripe fruit ready to drop, waiting for the call for a move abroad. Goalie Joan Parra, left back Yeferson Rodallega and winger Henry Mosquera are the stand-out cases. But left winger Luis Díaz and striker William Hurtado, both 18 years old, have also already shown they are real talents. At this stage of the season, with no injuries and no pressure, Envigado are flying. Undefeated so far and on the back of an important win last week against big city rivals DIM, they will be too much of a match for inconsistent Alianza Petrolera, who haven’t won on their travels since August last year. For the outright win, they are 2.05, but make this one a banker at 1.45 with Envigado no bet.

Sportivo Trinidense face the in form Olimpia on a Saturday showdown at the Villa Alegre stadium in Encarnación. The “home” side will be playing their second game in this stadium some 370 km from their local ground the Martín Torres. They lost on their last outing there to Cerro Porteño, while El Decano return to the southern city a month after losing the Super Cup there to Sportivo Ameliano.

Trinidense were unlucky to come away without all three points against Guaireña, a mistake by goalkeeper Pablo Gavilán in stoppage time gifted the equalizer. The game also saw Luis Barrios get injured and he will be ruled out for this match, a big loss. Defender Armando Ruiz Díaz and striker Alex Álvarez are ruled out through illness, the latest victims to the Chikungunya virus that is rising at idemic levels in Paraguay. Pedro Delvalle, ever present until now, is also out with a muscle injury and will likely be replaced by Pablo Ayala who scored his last league goal against Olimpia way back in August 2021 while at Sol de América.

Olimpia were supreme against Tacuary on Monday night, winning 4-0 with all four of their strikers scoring. Facundo Bruera had a goal ruled out, missed some easy chances but got off the mark via the penalty spot which should have eased some nerves. Marcos Gómez was superb in the middle and he could be partnered in this match by Richard Ortiz who has been gradually getting more minutes as he returns from injury. There were reports linking defender Mateo Gamarra with a move abroad, the transfer window in Paraguay is open for one more week, but it seems likely he will play.

The last meeting between these two sides was in 2018, Trinidense surprising Olimpia and knocking them out of the Copa Paraguay on penalties. Their last set of league meetings came in 2017, Olimpia won three of the four matches to nil, drawing 1-1 in the other. With the game at a neutral venue, the injuries to key players for Trinidense and the form of the Rey de Copas it seems impossible to look past another win for Julio César Cáceres’ side.

Nacional put their 100% record to the test days after an epic stoppage time victory in the torrential rain on Tuesday to advance to the next stage of the Copa Libertadores. Libertad come into the match having lost their own perfect record following a home draw to Luqueño last weekend.

Pedro Sarabia has lost key players but has still managed to cobble a competitive team together for the 2023 Apertura and Libertadores. In the absence of last year’s stars Bruera, Arrúa and Santacruz they have brought in players such as Mathias Martínez and Feliciano Brizuela who are shining already. David Fleitas was the hero in the midweek match and the striker will likely be handed a starting role for this game having previously been on the bench.

Daniel Garnero had to turn to Alfio Oviedo, back from his loan to Cerro Porteño, for goals as Roque Santa Cruz was out injured and Óscar Cardozo wasn’t firing on all cylinders. It was a reminder of Libertad’s strength in depth and rumours are abound they will promote 15-year-old star Rodrigo Vera, he scored 24 goals at youth level last year. They will also welcome back defender Gilberto Flores and midfielder Diego Gómez from the recent U20s South American championship and both youngsters have a chance of featuring. Another teenager Ruben Lezcano has received plaudits for his performances on the left hand side.

The game is being played in the national stadium the Defensores del Chaco, where both sides are comfortable. Although Nacional won the previous meeting 1-0 in October, the three games prior to that all ended in victories for the Gumarelo. With less rest, and the next round of the Libertadores starting less than 72 hours after this match you feel Nacional won’t be at their very strongest.