Colo Colo are closer than ever to their 35th league star, and the leaders in the dressing room have stepped up at the moment it mattered most. A win at Chillán on Sunday would seal the championship.
The turning point came with the Superclásico at the Estadio Nacional, a result that let the Albos celebrate with a chant aimed at their rivals, Universidad de Chile. That early confidence did not last. The gap narrowed over the following weeks, and a heavy defeat to Coquimbo Unido left the title race open. The side was tested, with memories of the March Superclásico defeat and of the setbacks that had hurt them in 2025.
Vidal takes charge
Arturo Vidal, at 39 the team’s most experienced voice, responded with a mix of humour and leadership. After a thumping win over Universidad de Concepción, he joked that if the team drew or lost, he would do the talking. He has become a figure the younger players lean on, and his relationship with coach Ortiz, who found him a role that keeps him in the starting lineup, has been carefully defined.
Correa’s goals and his conflicts
Javier Correa leads the club’s scoring with 18 goals in 18 matches and has added five assists. His output could have been higher, as he has been suspended several times, including after criticising a referee and, more recently, for an obscene gesture during a celebration. Fans who once wanted him out now adore him, and he has also played a role in the squad’s harmony, including helping goalkeeper Vozinha settle in after his signing in late July.
Harmony in the dressing room
Vozinha arrived with a reputation from the last World Cup and a large social media following, which could have unsettled the group. Instead, he has formed a close bond with Vidal and Correa, and the trio are now seen as inseparable. Behind them, players such as Joaquín Sosa, Álvaro Madrid, Jonathan Villagra and Víctor Méndez have earned respect through their performances, while the younger squad members keep the dressing room lively, even if this season there is no single celebration song like the one that followed every win in 2024.
Source: www.latercera.com
