Tomás Yelmini
The year 2023 is already here and the South American soccer leagues, which are going through the summer break, are getting ready to kick off. This is the case of the Chilean First Division, which will begin on the weekend of January 22, with 16 teams playing a total of 30 rounds divided into two rounds. The defending champion is none other than Colo Colo, the most winning team in the trans-Andean country.
With 33 league titles and 22 runner-up finishes, “El Cacique” is not only the most successful team in Chile, but also one of the greatest in South America. It is worth mentioning that it is also the only team from that country to have won a Copa Libertadores, in 1991.
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Predictions, Odds, and Betting Preview for Colo Colo in the 2023 Chilean Primera Division Season
Under the guidance of Argentine coach Gustavo Quinteros, Colo Colo knows that it will have a demanding year, as the crowned champions will also have to pay attention to the Copa Libertadores, while fighting for the local title once again. Juan Martín Lucero, scorer of 15 goals, will no longer be available in the atacking front, while Argentine defender Ramiro González Hernández has joined the team. Its debut in the Chilean Championship will take place on Sunday, January 22, as a visitor, against Deportes Copiapó.
To replace Lucero, Colo Colo will seek the services of another Argentinean, the experienced Leandro Benegas, 33, who has a lot of experience in Chilean soccer, playing for Unión La Calera, Universidad de Chile, Audax Italiano, Palestino and Curicó Unido. His las club was Independiente from Argentina, where he had a good season, playing 41 games and scoring 13 goals as well as six assists.
Colo Colo in the 2022 Season
On October 23, 2022, with a 2-0 away win over Coquimbo Unido, Colo Colo was crowned Chilean champion for the 33rd time in its history and reinforced its status as the country’s biggest team. It happened with two games before the end of the tournament, after a very good campaign under the guidance of Gustavo Quinteros. Colo Colo finished with 63 points, 9 points ahead of its main rival, Ñublense.
It was the team that won the most matches (18) and lost the least (3), in addition to 9 ties. El Cacique was also the team that scored the most goals (54) and conceded the fewest (17) of the 16 participants in the competition. As if that were not enough, it finished undefeated at home, with 11 wins and 4 draws.
Argentina’s Juan Martín Lucero was their top scorer, scoring 15 goals and finishing as the tournament’s second top scorer (as well as adding five assists) behind his compatriot Fernando Zampedri who plays for Universidad Católica. Peru’s Gabriel Costa was another outstanding player, with 10 goals and four assists.
Colo Colo Odds for the 2023 Season
Colo Colo odds for the 2023 season are not yet available, but we invite you to keep an eye on JefeBet updates, where you will soon find the odds provided by our affiliates for this team and the rest of the participants of the Chilean Championship.
Colo Colo in International Competitions
Thanks to the title won in the 2022 season, Colo Colo gained direct access to the group stage of the 2023 Copa Libertadores, the draw for which will take place on March 20. Colo Colo, which is part of Group 2, won the Copa Libertadores in 1991 after defeating Olimpia of Paraguay in the final. They also reached another final in 1973, but on that occasion they lost to Independiente. In the 2022 edition, El Cacique failed to qualify for the Round of 16.
JefeBet Prediction
The absence of a goalscorer like Lucero will surely be sensitive for Colo Colo, but beyond that, the team seems to have the necessary tools to, at least, return to the Copa Libertadores in 2024 via the league, so we hope that the Cacique to finish the season on the podium of the Chilean Championship.
Chilean Championship Prediction: Will finish in third place.
Copa Libertadores Prediction: will pass the group stage and reach the round of 16.
