- Once Caldas are solid away from home, with 2 wins, 5 draws and only 1 defeat in Primera A 2026.
- Once Caldas are 5th in Primera A 2026 with 29 points from 17 games, whereas Rionegro Aguilas Doradas are 12th with 22 points from the same number of matches.
- Rionegro Aguilas Doradas have won 4, drawn 1 and lost 4 of their 9 home games in Primera A 2026.
Crucial clash of styles
A contrast of playing styles is often the best recipe for an exciting game and this Primera A clash between possession-based Rionegro Aguilas Doradas and pragmatic Once Caldas should be no exception.
Juan David Nino, who took over as Rionegro boss in January 2026, is building a team in transition, playing a more progressive, possession-based style than his predecessor. The team plays with a tempo, using the full-backs to stretch the field and trying to create goal-scoring opportunities through superior possession.
Hernan Herrera, who took the helm at Once Caldas in October 2023, has developed a pragmatic set-up in which the team operates in compact defensive blocks with a disciplined double pivot and rapid vertical counter-attacks to take advantage of space left by the opposition. Our Rionegro Aguilas Doradas vs Once Caldas preview highlights how these distinct tactical approaches could shape the contest.
Once Caldas are on a roll
Once Caldas are on a better run of form, with 1 win, 3 draws and only 1 defeat in their last 5 league games. They come into this game on the back of a 2-1 home win over Internacional de Bogota and a 0-0 away draw at Deportivo Pereira, two results that reflect their solid but unspectacular approach.
Rionegro, on the other hand, are in a bit of a slump with 3 defeats in their last 5, including consecutive defeats to Junior FC (0-3) and Fortaleza FC (2-0). According to the latest Rionegro Aguilas Doradas vs Once Caldas prediction, the momentum is currently with Once Caldas, but the home side will be eager to turn things around after beating Bucaramanga 2-1 at home in their most recent game and will need a similar performance to overcome an in-form Once Caldas.
Mateo Zuleta has been in decent form for Once Caldas with 2 goals in their last 5 and provides a secondary scoring threat to talisman Dayro Moreno, who has 9 goals in 17 Primera A games.
Rivaldo to be the key
Rionegro will be looking to talisman Jorge Rivaldo to create their chances on Sunday. The midfield dynamo has 9 in Primera A 2026 and has scored 2 of their last 4 goals. His ability to unlock defenses will be crucial here as Rionegro will have to break down a compact Once Caldas unit.
Once Caldas have a slight edge in the two previous Primera A head-to-head clashes (1 win, 1 draw) and should have enough quality to edge the result in what is likely to be an exciting matchup. This Rionegro Aguilas Doradas vs Once Caldas prediction suggests the bookies have 2.84 odds on an away win and 1.78 on both teams to score, which looks solid value for this game. Rionegro will need to push forward and Once Caldas will counter, leading to a game with chances at both ends and over 2.5 goals seems a strong play.
Once Caldas are superior in all departments and Rionegro have won 2 of their last 3 at home against them, so a home victory is a good possibility. The best Rionegro Aguilas Doradas vs Once Caldas betting tips indicate the over 2.5 goals at 2.08, reflecting their expectation of an open, attacking game, which seems likely given the clash of playing styles and the current Rionegro Aguilas Doradas vs Once Caldas prediction. Rionegro average 1.11 goals scored and 1.33 conceded per home game in Primera A 2026, while Once Caldas average 1.12 goals scored and only 0.88 conceded per away game this term.
