Oriente seeks to climb the table and stop Always Ready

Oriente Petrolero will try to keep its good run going on Saturday when it hosts Always Ready, one of the leaders of the championship. The match begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera stadium, where a large crowd is expected.

Oriente arrives after beating Blooming in the Santa Cruz derby. The victory gave Gustavo Florentín’s team an important lift, and the club hopes to use its improved form to continue climbing the standings. Always Ready, by contrast, has stalled over its past three matches and will travel to Santa Cruz seeking a return to winning form and a result that preserves its position at the top.

Florentín cannot select Franz González, who must serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards. Matías Roskopf also remains unavailable while recovering from an ankle injury. Forward Nahuel Roldán has returned to full training with his teammates and could make his comeback, although the coaching staff will make the final decision before kickoff.

Oriente’s sporting progress has not erased concerns away from the pitch. The club continues to face economic and leadership problems that have affected it for several years, even as the squad tries to stay focused on its objectives. Oriente sits fourth with 27 points, nine behind Always Ready, which shares first place with Bolívar. A win would reduce the gap and give greater weight to Oriente’s recovery. Always Ready will seek a response under Pablo Godoy, while Oriente supporters are expected to fill the stadium in green.