Henry Roldán
The first matchday of the Chilean Primera Division closes next Monday with a very interesting match between Universidad de Chile vs Huachipato.
La U finished last campaign fighting to avoid relegation, as it was only three points away from doing so. Meanwhile, the Los Acereros were one place above their current rivals. Without further ado, JefeBet brings you the best preview of the match between Universidad de Chile vs Huachipato.
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Preview for the Universidad de Chile vs Huachipato Chilean Primera Division Matchday 1 Game on January 23, 2023
- Where: Santa Laura Stadium – Santiago de Chile, Chile.
- When: Monday, January 23, 5:00 PM E.T.
- Moneyline: Universidad de Chile (+118) / Tie (+215) / Huachipato (+230)
- Asian Handicap: Universidad de Chile (-0.25, -115) / Huachipato (+0-25, -110)
- Over/Under (2.5): Over (+100) / Under (-132)
- Both teams score: Yes (-136) / No (+100)
All odds shown are courtesy of Unibet.
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Universidad de Chile Preview
Universidad de Chile got reinforced in a big way during the Chilean soccer preseason. The intention behind this was recovering old glories that have been forgotten after the performances of the last few campaigns. For the third championship in a row, one of the clubs with the most titles in the history of Chile has been fighting to avoid relegation. To turn that fate around, the team hired the successful Argentinean coach, Mauricio Pellegrino.
Apart from the DT, players were also added to the team. These players must make a difference in order to fight for a title they have not won since the 2016-2017 Clausura, when two championships per year was still a thing. Among the most prominent names are Argentine strikers Nery Domínguez and Leandro Fernández. The team has also brought in Juan Pablo Gómez on the right, and Matías Zaldivia, a historic defender from their eternal rival Colo Colo, and whose signing was controversial.
It is worth noting that La U will not play this campaign at the National Stadium, as the stadium is undergoing repairs for the Juegos Panamericanos to be held this year in Chile.
Probable lineup (4-3-3): Cristóbal Campos; Juan Pablo Gómez, Matías Zaldivia, Nery Domínguez, José Ignacio Castro; Mauricio Morales, Federico Mateos, Luis Felipe Gallegos; Leandro Fernández, Cristian Palacios and Nicolás Guerra.
Huachipato Preview
Huachipato begins its 2023 Chilean Primera Division season with a tough match against one of the favorites to fight for the title. The Acerero team will also have a new coach, the Argentine Gustavo Álvarez, whose goal is to improve on the 12th place achieved last campaign. That time, the team finished 10 points away of the continental competitions’ places.
Huachipato also sought to reinforce its offensive side after finishing as one of the lowest scoring teams in the previous tournament. The team brought in striker Mateo Acosta and former Colo Colo midfielder Carlo Villanueva.
Huachipato’s last championship in the Chilean Primera Division dates back to the 2022 Clausura Tournament. Meanwhile, its last participation in an international tournament was in 2021 when it played in the Copa Sudamericana.
Probable lineup (4-2-1-3): Gabriel Castellón; Joaquín Gutiérrez, Bastián Roco, Nicolás Ramírez, Antonio Castillo; Claudio Sepúlveda, Carlos Lobos; Carlo Villanueva; Julián Brea, Mateo Acosta and Cris Martínez.
JefeBet Prediction
In recent campaigns, both teams have been very evenly matched regarding their performance, but for this edition, things are looking very different for Universidad de Chile. The arrival of Pellegrino is a major plus and the transfer market was pretty solid, so a positive start at home is what is on the horizon for the team next Monday.
On Huachipato’s side, although it reinforced the attack, the defense was the fourth that conceded the most goals in the previous season, with 46 goals conceded. Moreover, no important reinforcements arrived for the upcoming championship.
Prediction: Univesidad de Chile to win (UCH 2 – HUA 0).
