Liga de Quito Prepares for Crucial Match Against Orense

QUITO, Ecuador — Liga de Quito faces a critical challenge this Saturday, March 1, 2025, when it hosts Orense Sporting Club at 4:30 p.m. in the third round of LigaPro.

The return of right back Daniel de la Cruz to the starting lineup is the main highlight for the home team, after he missed the previous match due to injury. This shift by coach Pablo ‘Vitamina’ Sánchez indicates a strategic return to a four-defender formation, as the team previously adopted a three-defender setup during a 1-1 draw against Independiente del Valle.

“We need to be solid defensively but also create opportunities to score,” Sánchez stated during a press briefing. “Our aim is to secure three points at home after a slow start to the season.”

In their first two matches, Liga de Quito has managed to gather only two points, which makes this match crucial for their aspirations. The coach expects the partnership between forwards Lautaro Pastrán and Alex Arce to begin yielding results. In the midfield, the combination of Gabriel Villamil and Fernando Cornejo will also be pivotal to engage the attack effectively.

Defensively, Liga de Quito will need to remain alert against Orense’s key players: leading scorer Miguel Parrales and winger Ángel Mena, who have proven to be formidable adversaries in past encounters.

The confirmed starting lineup for Liga de Quito includes: Alexander ‘Dida’ Domínguez in goal; Daniel de la Cruz, Ricardo Adé, Gian Franco Allala, and Leonel Quiñónez in defense; Carlos Gruezo, Gabriel Villamil (with Kevin Minda potentially stepping in), and Fernando Cornejo in midfield; and Lautaro Pastrán alongside Alex Arce in the forward positions.

With experienced players like Domínguez and Adé anchoring the squad and the attacking flair of Arce and Pastrán, the team is keen to achieve a much-needed victory that could boost morale and set the stage for future matches in LigaPro.