Millonarios FC secured their first Liga BetPlay victory of the season by routing Junior de Barranquilla 3-0 at El Campín, ending a seven-match winless streak. Junior, after extending their undefeated run, saw their leadership challenged as they drop points and sit atop the standings with 17 points.
From the opening whistle, Junior pushed to take the initiative in an away game, creating the first danger with Yeison Suárez’s shot at the two-minute mark, only for Millonarios’ defense to hold firm.
The hosts drew first blood in the 20th minute. A collective move started by Danovis Banguero, continued by Alex Castro and finished by Sebastián Del Castillo in the area, put Millonarios ahead. The home side kept the pressure, and at 33 minutes the advantage was doubled when a floated pass from Santiago Giordana found Nicolás Arévalo, who controlled it and finished with a precise left-foot touch.
After the break, Junior brought on Teófilo Gutiérrez, José Enamorado and Fabián Ángel in search of a spark, while Millonarios again preferred a solid defensive approach and dangerous counterattacks. A goal by Beckham Castro was disallowed for a handball at 62 minutes, but Millonarios extended their lead late in the game. In the 84th minute, Edwin Mosquera assisted Arévalo, whose through ball found Danovis Banguero; his shot beat the goalkeeper Mauro Silveira, and after a VAR review the referee confirmed the 3-0 final.
The match also highlighted ongoing tensions within Millonarios, as the club continues to deal with the departure of former coach David González. Captain Jorge Arias addressed the controversy in the post-match press conference, stressing that there was no basis for accusations of a deliberate plan to push González out. Arias said the group respected the coach and learned a lot from him, and while a fresh start was needed after a difficult stretch, the players had wanted to honor González for his impact.
With this result, Millonarios move to five points and sit 19th in the table. They will face Águilas Doradas next in league play, and are also slated to meet Real Cartagena in the Copa BetPlay. Junior, having ended their unwonted streak, remains the league leader and will play Llaneros after their cup commitment against Atlético FC.
What this means going forward: Millonarios will look to build on momentum from a convincing win, showing resilience under a new leadership setup and evaluating how to convert their solid performances into a more consistent run in the league. Junior will aim to keep pace at the top while continuing to balance domestic competition with cup responsibilities.
Summary: Millonarios snaps a seven-game winless run with a 3-0 victory over Junior, but unsettled leadership and internal questions weigh on the club as they head toward key league and cup fixtures.