December 20, 2024, 10:14 AM
December 20, 2024, 10:14 AM
Starting at 3:00 p.m. this Friday, Real Santa Cruz will play its last game in the Professional Division, and will do so by visiting San Antonio de Bulo Bulo at the close of the Clausura tournament. The match that will be played at the Carlos Villegas stadium in Entre Ríos will be the farewell to the highest category of Bolivian football for the white team, which must return to the Cruceña Football Association (ACF) from 2025.
Real, plunged into a deep economic and institutional crisis, experienced a catastrophic season in the Professional Division that led to poor sporting performance, to the point that it lost the category with three dates remaining until the end of the tournament.
Throughout the year they have played 37 matches, of which they won only six, drew five and lost 26, extremely alarming numbers. In addition, it is the team with the most goals and also the one that scored the least. It has 35 in favor and 83 against, having a difference of minus 48.
The uncertainty is total in Real Santa Cruz about what may happen with the club next year, since the leadership has several months of debts with the first team and to date they have not commented on when they will make at least one payment effective. Furthermore, there is a total rupture between the corporate mass and the leadership.
On the opposite side is San Antonio, which appears for this match only to fulfill and awaiting Sunday’s match against Bolívar, which corresponds to the grand final of the 2024 season. This unique match will be played in Cochabamba and will recognize the champion of the year, in addition to awarding one million dollars to the winner.
“Our goal is to beat Bolívar and to do so we are going to take care of our usual starters, since the match against Real is just to be fulfilled,” said Iván Hauyhuata, San Antonio midfielder, confirming that they have their minds set on Sunday.
San Antonio, winner of the Apertura tournament, qualified for the group stage of the Copa Libertadores 2025 as Bolivia 1.
The incidents of the match will be controlled by Renán Castillo, who will be assisted from the wings by Fernando Barrón and Humberto Mostajo, while Elvis Rodríguez will monitor the VAR.
A couple of hours later (5:30 p.m.), at the Víctor Agustín Ugarte stadium, Nacional Potosí will host FC Universitario de Vinto in a clash between two teams that have already qualified for the Copa Sudamericana.
The visit is Bolivia 1 after being the runner-up of the Apertura, while the local team will determine its final position depending on the result it obtains this afternoon.
With 60 points, the Potosinos are Bolivia 2 and with a victory they will confirm that place; although the draw could still serve them as long as Aurora does not beat Always Ready in Villa Ingenio on Saturday.
Bladimir Rueda will be the central judge and will be assisted from the bands by Edil Gareca and Jorge Baldivieso. The VAR will be monitored by Cristian Cruz.
