Millonarios Defeats Santa Fe in Tense Bogotá Classic

Bogotá, Colombia – Millonarios FC triumphed over Independiente Santa Fe with a score of 1-0 in the opening match of Group B for the Liga BetPlay I-2025 on June 1, 2025. The game took place at the historic Nemesio Camacho El Campín stadium, where the teams clashed in a tense atmosphere marked by numerous controversies.

The only goal of the match came from No, a header that confirmed Millonarios’ strong start in the group. This classic Bogotá clash has a long-standing rivalry, with both teams fighting for supremacy in Colombian football.

Millonarios, who had recently claimed victory over Santa Fe in their prior encounter, was considered the favorite going into this match. They built upon their momentum thanks to an invisible point advantage from their solid performance in the initial phase of the tournament.

Throughout recent seasons, matches between these two sides have often been tight and decided by narrow margins, with few goals scored. In the last two games played between them in the quadrangulares, Millonarios earned four points, showcasing their competitiveness.

In the most recent match, the encounters featured controversial refereeing decisions. Analysts highlighted that Millonarios’ Andrés Llinás should have been sent off earlier in the match for a foul against Santa Fe’s Daniel Torres. Despite a VAR review indicating a possible red card, referee Carlos Ortega opted for a yellow card instead.

Another moment of contention arose in the dying moments of the match when Santa Fe claimed for a penalty after a ball appeared to strike a Millonarios player’s hand. VAR was consulted, but the referee determined that no foul occurred, leading to further frustration among Santa Fe supporters.

Additionally, a late equalizer for Millonarios by Radamel Falcao also faced scrutiny for a potential offside, but replays confirmed his legality in the play, leading to a satisfactory conclusion for Millonarios as they celebrated their victory.