Olimpia faces anniversary and key derby match

Club Olimpia is gearing up for a significant week as it approaches its 124th anniversary on July 25, 2026. The club will commemorate this milestone by kicking off its Clausura 2026 championship campaign the following day with a highly anticipated "black and white" classic against rival Libertad.

The match is scheduled to take place at the Defensores del Chaco stadium at 4:00 PM. Coach Pablo "Vitamina" Sánchez has outlined the team's training schedule, with sessions set for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings at the Villa in Fernando de la Mora. Saturday's training will be held in the late afternoon, followed by the team's concentration at their "bunker" in Zona Norte.

The core of the starting lineup is expected to remain the same as the team that faced Flamengo in Brasilia, resulting in a 4-2 defeat. This lineup includes Gastón Olveira in goal, supported by a defense of Raúl Cáceres, Juan Ángel Vera, Mateo Gamarra, and Alan Rodríguez. The midfield will feature Fernando Cardozo, Richard Sánchez, Juan Fernando Alfaro, and Eduardo Delmás, with Braian Romero and Bernardo Romeo Benítez leading the attack.

Captain Richard Ortiz has recovered from his injury and is available for selection. However, Iván Leguizamón will require a few more weeks to fully recover. New Zealand international Tim Payne is reportedly adapting quickly to the team and could be among the substitutes.