Junior vs Once Caldas: Liga BetPlay date, time and TV
Junior hosts Once Caldas on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at 8:15 p.m. COL (20:15) in Liga BetPlay 2026-II Matchday 6 at Estadio Romelio Martínez in Barranquilla. The Junior vs Once Caldas clash airs live on WIN and WIN+. Both sides urgently need points after stumbling through the second semester.
Reigning Colombian champion Junior and Once Caldas meet again just months after a dramatic Copa BetPlay quarterfinal decided by a missed penalty. With the Tiburón winless and Once Caldas outside the top eight, this coastal clash carries real table pressure—not just history.
Key Takeaways
- Kickoff: Sunday, August 23, 2026, at 8:15 p.m. COL at Estadio Romelio Martínez, Barranquilla.
- TV/streaming: Live on WIN and WIN+ in Colombia.
- Stakes: Junior has zero points from two games; Once Caldas has five from twelve and sits outside the top eight.
- Backstory: Once Caldas seeks revenge after Dayro Moreno's saved penalty let Junior advance 3-2 on aggregate in May.
- Form: Junior lost twice in a row; Once Caldas is winless in three after a 2-2 draw at Jaguares.
When and where is Junior vs Once Caldas?
The fixture closes Liga BetPlay Matchday 6 on Sunday, August 23. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. local Colombia time at Estadio Romelio Martínez in Barranquilla, per ESPN Deportes.
It is the final game of a Matchday 6 slate that began Friday and included Fortaleza vs Atlético Nacional, Deportivo Pasto vs Llaneros, and Deportivo Cali vs Internacional de Bogotá earlier Sunday.
How can you watch Junior vs Once Caldas on TV?
Colombian viewers can watch the Junior vs Once Caldas broadcast on WIN and the WIN+ streaming platform. For more Liga BetPlay watch guides and kickoff alerts, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
WIN holds broadcast rights for much of Colombia's top-flight football, making WIN+ the primary streaming option for fans who cannot watch on traditional TV.
Why does this Liga BetPlay clash matter?
Junior, the bicampeón, has played only twice this semester and has not earned a point. The Tiburón sits at the bottom of the table after consecutive league defeats, including a tough home loss to Millonarios, and was also knocked out of the Copa BetPlay by second-division Barranquilla FC.
Once Caldas arrives with its own urgency. The Blanco has five points from twelve available and dropped out of the top-eight places after leading Matchday 1. They drew with Santa Fe and Alianza and lost at home to América before the 2-2 draw at Jaguares.
Revenge adds extra spice. In the first-semester Liga BetPlay quarterfinals, Dayro Moreno's penalty was saved, the tie finished 2-2 (3-2 aggregate to Junior), and the Tiburón went on to beat Atlético Nacional for the title. Once Caldas, as Infobae Colombia noted, wants payback for that semifinal-path elimination while Junior tries to halt two straight losses.
Who are the key players and likely lineups?
Luis Fernando Muriel leads Junior's attack. The forward was last semester's top scorer and netted in the Copa BetPlay loss to Barranquilla FC. La Patria projects a Junior XI featuring Mauro Silveira, Daniel Socarrás, Jermein Peña, Daniel Rivera, Yeison Suárez, Juan David Ríos, Jesús Rivas, Cristian Barrios, Kevin Pérez, Bryan Castrillón, and Muriel.
For Once Caldas, Andrés Roa is the man to watch with two goals already this campaign. Coach Hernán Darío Herrera may bring back Jefry Zapata in place of Dayro Moreno and start Felipe Gómez over Jaime Alvarado. Andrés Colorado is the only player returning from injury. Their last meeting in May 2026 ended 2-2.
Once Caldas also returns from a pause after Colombia's August 10 earthquake, which postponed league action and forced the club to train only briefly before a charity friendly against Atlético Nacional. Neither side can afford another slip on Sunday night in Barranquilla.