Junior are never far from a crisis. That’s the word so often used along Colombia’s Caribbean coast where Junior rule the reign and football fans’ hearts, but, in truth, this usually means they are not living up to the lofty standards set by their lavish spending in the transfer market.

Managers come and go. Some coaches keep coming back for more, like Uruguayan Julio Comesaña who was sacked last season in his tenth stint with the club. Already current manager Arturo Reyes, also in his second spell with Junior, is under heavy pressure with former Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda already being eyed up by Junior’s board. The problem this season, like many before it, is that Junior’s squad is peppered with high-profile players, seduced by big wages to attract fans to the stadium and help the club’s megalomaniac owner consolidate his political power in the region. There is no process, there’s often no logic. Juan Fernando Quintero was the latest vanity purchase pre-season and while he’s undoubtedly a quality player with a wand of a left foot, there’s a reason why he’s failed to make much of a lasting impact wherever he’s played. Unable to play more than 60-odd minutes, Junior’s attacking play this season has seemingly been built upon one simple team instruction: give Juanfer the ball.

More worrying is the form of their previous glitzy signing, former Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca. In last week’s 0-0 home draw against Union Magdalena, he was awful, as he has been all season. But he’s too big a player to be dropped so it’s hardly a surprise to see the Barranquilla side winless this season.

Against Pasto in the Andean mountaintops where the altitude and cold sits in deep contrast from their Caribbean base, it’s hard to see how they will turn the corner. While Pasto still look a work in progress in 2023 with a home loss and away win in their two games so far, manager Flavio Torres is now in his third year with the club, in this his second spell. He knows Pasto inside out. There are no flashy stars in his team, but clearly there is a process. On name, reputation and history alone Pasto have no right to be outpunching a team like Junior. But football’s more complicated than that, and under the current context, it’s wiser to follow Pasto’s smart and organised process over misfiring and out-of-form Junior who are led by a manager who has long shown he is out of his depth at such a top club.

Luqueño take on Ameliano in what is a grudge match for the auriazul, as their last meeting was the promotion/relegation playoff in 2021 which ultimately ended in relegation for Luque. Humberto Garcia’s side lost their unbeaten record in surprising fashion, falling 3-0 to Resistencia and they are still searching for their first league win of the year.

Gustavo Florentín has polished a diamond in 21-year-old Marcelo Pérez who has scored all of the side’s goals to date, netting one per game. However, he is yet to find a win with the side consistently conceding despite having the experienced Pablo Aguilar at the back. This week they strengthened further up the field as 31-year-old striker Mathias Castro joined from Wanderers in Uruguay.

Like their rivals, Ameliano have had troubles at the back, conceding six in their three Primera games to date. Marcos Martinich will miss out this game after being sent off for an elbow against Resistencia, but the left back’s absence won’t be felt as much with central defender Franco Ortellado returning from suspension. Up front they have been struggling for a goalscorer with most of the strikes arriving from midfield.

Luqueño are unbeaten at home dating back to June, in fact they have only lost one of their last 11 at the Feliciano Cáceres which was recently given the all clear to reopen one of the stands previously deemed unsafe. With an electric atmosphere it might be a tough game for Sportivo Ameliano, but it is worth noting that they bounced back with a win after their last two defeats.