Bacca Returns as Junior Seeks to Capitalize at Home in Junior - Alianza Clash
The forward Carlos Bacca is back in contention as Junior prepares to host Alianza Valledupar in Romelio Martínez on Thursday, March 5 at 8: 20 p. m. The match, part of the 10th round of the Liga BetPlay, is being billed as a must-win for the home side and will be broadcast live on WIN.
Junior squad and recent form
Junior arrives off a 2-0 victory over Jaguares in Montería that left the team with 15 points and in sixth place, three points shy of the leader. That win also gave Teófilo Gutiérrez his 100th goal with the club. Head coach Alfredo Arias has highlighted defensive frailties on set pieces and aerial duels as areas needing work; the coach said the team has been training specifically to correct problems on corners and free kicks after conceding from headers in recent matches.
Two notable fitness developments alter Junior’s options for the Romelio Martínez fixture. Carlos Bacca, sidelined for nine months by a heel injury, has returned to matchday availability and is expected to be on the bench as a substitute option. Cristian Barrios has recovered from a muscular problem that kept him out of the Jaguares game and could rejoin the starting group. Tactical plans outlined for the match see Yimmi Chará and Barrios as wide attackers, Guillermo Paiva in a playmaking role and Luis Fernando Muriel leading the frontline, with Guillermo Celis and Jesús Rivas providing cover in midfield.
Junior - Alianza: Alianza Valledupar’s crisis and personnel
Alianza Valledupar go into the encounter rooted to the bottom of the table with three points from eight matches, having drawn three times and lost five. Their defense has been breached 17 times, the second-most conceded in the competition, while their attack has produced only three goals across those eight fixtures. A 3-0 loss to América in their most recent outing intensified scrutiny over the group’s performances.
The club will be without Wiston Fernández for the upcoming match after his involvement in a controversial incident in the defeat to América, which included a VAR-awarded penalty and a later dismissal. Carlos Esparragoza and Fabián Cantillo are listed as available for selection and could provide experience in midfield and defensive roles as Alianza attempts to stem the run of defeats.
Stakes, broadcast and broader implications
The fixture carries clear stakes: a victory would strengthen Junior’s push toward the top of the standings, while another defeat would deepen Alianza’s crisis. The timing matters because Bacca’s return coincides with a run of fixtures in which Junior need a more clinical finishing touch to turn collective performances into consistent wins.
Broadcast arrangements place the match at 8: 20 p. m. on Thursday at Romelio Martínez, with live coverage on WIN. Beyond the scoreboard, the match will test whether Junior’s focused training on set pieces has corrected the lapses that cost them in aerial defending, and whether Alianza’s limited offensive output can be punctured by a rejuvenated home attack.
Political attention has also touched the football field: congressman Ape Cuello publicly criticized Alianza after the loss to América, questioning aspects of the team’s conduct in that game. That public rebuke adds pressure on the visiting side ahead of a fixture against a champion-minded opponent.
What makes this notable is the convergence of a seasoned goalscorer’s comeback with a club seeking improved defensive stability; the outcome will offer an early indicator of whether Junior’s adjustments and fresh options can translate into the consistent results the coaching staff has demanded.
