In a surprising turn of events, O’Higgins of Rancagua traveled to the Claro Arena and secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Universidad Católica (UC) in the 26th round of the 2025 Primera Liga. This result has ignited the race between the two clubs for Chile’s second spot in the upcoming Copa Libertadores.
Luis Pavez opened the scoring in the 35th minute, setting the tone for a challenging outing for the home side. The visitors, O’Higgins, were better organized on the pitch and made their presence felt, especially with the absences of key players like Gary Medel and Fernando Zampedri in the UC lineup.
A Tactical Masterclass from O’Higgins
Despite the attempts by Clemente Montes and the constant inaccuracies in the UC attack, the visitors from Rancagua refused to back down and capitalized on their chances. The standout performer of the match, Bryan Rabello, unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner to silence the home crowd.
With the scoreline in their favor, O’Higgins managed the remainder of the encounter, as a deflated Universidad Católica struggled to find their rhythm, ultimately suffering an injury to Agustín Farías.
The Race for the Second Libertadores Spot
With the league champion Coquimbo Unido already determined, the battle for the second place now sees Universidad Católica as the current runner-up with 48 points, while O’Higgins is in hot pursuit with 47 points.
This hard-fought victory for O’Higgins has undoubtedly shaken up the race for the coveted second Libertadores berth, setting the stage for an intense finale to the season.
