October is a decisive month in the Colombian league season, Categoría Primera A. It marks the closing rounds of the First Stage in the Finalización tournament, where teams battle to secure a place in the top 8 and qualify for the Cuadrangulares (semifinal groups). At the same time, clubs at the bottom fight to avoid relegation, since Colombia uses an average-points system.
Results in October also shape the race for international cup spots (Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana) through the aggregate table. Strong performances here often carry momentum into the final stages in November and December, while poor results can end championship or qualification hopes.
Official Format (Apertura & Finalización, 2025)
1. First Stage
• 20 teams compete.
• Each team plays every other team once.
• Plus one extra match against a regional rival.
• In the Finalización, home/away fixtures are reversed for those matchups.
2. Semifinals (Cuadrangulares)
• The top 8 teams from the First Stage advance.
• These 8 are split into two groups of 4.
• Seedings ensure that the top two teams from the First Stage go into different groups.
3. Final
• The winners of the two semifinal groups play a two-legged final (home & away) to determine the champion of the tournament (Apertura or Finalización).
October Match Details
All Categoría Primera A (Finalización 2025) October matches:
October 27, 2025
• Deportivo Pasto vs Deportivo Pereira – Estadio Departamental Libertad, 19:30
October 28, 2025
• Águilas Doradas vs Envigado F.C. – Estadio Alberto Grisales, 16:00
• Deportivo Cali vs Alianza Valledupar – Estadio Deportivo Cali, 18:10
• Boyacá Chicó vs América de Cali – Estadio La Independencia, 20:20
October 29, 2025
• La Equidad vs Fortaleza CEIF – Estadio Metropolitano de Techo, 16:00
• Independiente Medellín vs Atlético Bucaramanga – Estadio Atanasio Girardot, 18:10
• Millonarios vs Once Caldas – Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campín, 20:20
October 30, 2025
• Unión Magdalena vs Deportes Tolima – Estadio Sierra Nevada, 16:00
• Junior vs Santa Fe – Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, 18:10
• Llaneros vs Atlético Nacional – Estadio Bello Horizonte – Rey Pelé, 20:20
October Venue Details
The October 2025 Categoría Primera A venues shown in a bullet-point style by match instead of a big table:
October 27, 2025
• Deportivo Pasto vs Deportivo Pereira
Estadio Departamental Libertad (Pasto, Nariño) – Capacity ~20,000
October 28, 2025
• Águilas Doradas vs Envigado
Estadio Alberto Grisales (Rionegro, Antioquia) – Capacity ~14,000
• Deportivo Cali vs Alianza Valledupar
Estadio Deportivo Cali (Palmira, Valle del Cauca) – Capacity ~44,000 (largest in Colombia)
• Boyacá Chicó vs América de Cali
Estadio La Independencia (Tunja, Boyacá) – Capacity ~20,000 (altitude ~2,800 m)
October 29, 2025
• La Equidad vs Fortaleza CEIF
Estadio Metropolitano de Techo (Bogotá) – Capacity ~10,000
• Independiente Medellín vs Atlético Bucaramanga
Estadio Atanasio Girardot (Medellín) – Capacity ~40,000
• Millonarios vs Once Caldas
Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campín (Bogotá) – Capacity ~36,000
October 30, 2025
• Unión Magdalena vs Deportes Tolima
Estadio Sierra Nevada (Santa Marta, Magdalena) – Capacity ~16,000
• Junior vs Santa Fe
Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez (Barranquilla, Atlántico) – Capacity ~46,000 (hosted World Cup 2001 Final)
• Llaneros vs Atlético Nacional
Estadio Bello Horizonte – Rey Pelé (Villavicencio, Meta) – Capacity ~15,000
Importance of the October Tournament Stage
October stage of the Categoría Primera A (Finalización 2025) is very important:
1. End of the First Stage
• October fixtures (Matchdays 17–20) are usually the final rounds of the regular season.
• Teams are fighting to finish in the top 8, which qualifies them for the Cuadrangulares (semifinal group stage).
2. Qualification Battles
• Clubs outside the top 8 still have a chance to sneak in with strong results in October.
• October often decides whether big clubs like Atlético Nacional, América de Cali, or Millonarios make the playoffs or miss out.
3. Relegation Pressure
• Colombia uses an average points system over multiple seasons to decide relegation.
• Matches in October are vital for teams near the bottom (like Unión Magdalena, Envigado, or Fortaleza CEIF) to secure survival.
4. International Cup Spots
• Performance in the Finalización plus aggregate table points determines qualification for Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.
• October results shape who stays in the race for continental football.
5. Momentum for Finals
• Entering the Cuadrangulares with good form from October is crucial.
• Teams that peak in October often carry momentum into November–December, giving them an edge in the knockout rounds.
Conclusion
October is one of the most critical periods in the Finalización tournament. During this month, teams complete the final rounds of the First Stage, determining which clubs advance to the Cuadrangulares (semifinal groups) and which may fall short. At the same time, clubs near the bottom fight to avoid relegation, making every point crucial. Performances in October also influence qualification for Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, while providing momentum that can carry into the semifinal and final stages. In essence, October often decides both the fate of championship contenders and the survival of struggling teams, making it a decisive month in the Colombian football calendar.
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