- Recent form: La Serena have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five matches.
- O'Higgins form: O'Higgins have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five games.
- Top scorer: Jeisson Vargas has scored five Primera Division goals for La Serena – the highest total for the side in 2026.
La Serena and O’Higgins set for close matchup in mid-table battle
O'Higgins will arrive in La Serena after a 1-0 loss to Boca Juniors in the Copa Sudamericana Playoffs and a 2-0 defeat to Deportes Concepcion in the Primera Division.
But La Serena come into this matchup in a similar frame of mind after a 1-0 Copa Chile loss to Cobreloa Calama and a wild 3-3 Primera Division 2026 draw with Universidad Catolica.
This is a close mid-table matchup in Chile's top flight with La Serena in 11th place with 19 points from 16 matches and O'Higgins in tenth with 20. The odds make it a near coin-toss with the visitors at 2.5 and the hosts at 2.77 while the draw sits at 3.5.
Back O’Higgins to nick it
Betting angle
Both teams to score at 1.62 does have some bite for this clash of two teams that like to play different styles of soccer.
Tactics and key players
- Felipe Gutierrez has La Serena drilled into a compact and organised team that don't give much away and have a reliable end product in Jeisson Vargas.
- He is the top scorer with five goals in 16 matches.
- Vargas could be the difference if La Serena can make this a set-piece and counterattack battle – which is exactly what they'll try to do.
- Lucas Bovaglio's men are a more progressive side, using positional superiority to dominate the wings and the center of the field and creating chances through quick and sharp vertical play.
- Arnaldo Castillo has three goals in his last five appearances, so he is on a hot streak.
O’Higgins have the psychological edge
Home advantage is usually a big deal in Chile's Primera Division, but this is a fixture La Serena haven't won in three meetings, which includes two draws and a 1-0 defeat in the previous game in the Primera Division 2026.
O'Higgins have been a little flaky on the road in 2026 with a 2-2-4 record from eight Primera Division 2026 away matches, but we like their chances of avoiding defeat here, or possibly even nicking it at 2.5.
La Serena have won three, drawn three and lost two of their eight Primera Division 2026 home matches in 2026, a steady return that keeps them in contention in their own backyard. They've also only conceded nine goals in those eight home games, a solid foundation to which they can build.
O'Higgins have conceded 15 goals in their eight Primera Division 2026 road games, which La Serena can exploit if they get a foothold. This could be close but we'll take O'Higgins to take all three points and avoid defeat at least.
