Universidad de Chile thrashed Ñublense 6-0 this Monday at El Teniente stadium in Rancagua in round 24 of the 2026 Liga de Primera. The result took Fernando Gago's team to 45 points, nine behind leaders Colo Colo.
According to La Tercera, La U had to play their home match in Rancagua because the National Stadium was reserved this week for concerts by BTS, the South Korean K-pop band. The Blues also took advantage of Colo Colo's defeat against Coquimbo Unido.
The Blues' dominance was almost total. Ñublense, coached by Juan José Ribera, barely troubled Gabriel Castellón with a couple of early attacks. La U controlled possession and moved the ball quickly down the flanks.
Maximiliano Guerrero opened the scoring after a pass from Agustín Arce. He controlled the ball and finished with a right-footed shot across goal. La Tercera records the goal at 12 minutes and BioBioChile at 13. The academy graduate completed his brace around the 37th minute: his shot, after a pass from Ignacio Vásquez, deflected off Campusano and ended up in the net.
In the second minute of first-half stoppage time, defender Pablo Calderón stopped a breakaway by Vásquez with a foul. Referee Cristián Garay sent him off, leaving the match practically settled.
In the second half, Arce, who had played at the under-20 World Cup, got his reward. At 55 minutes according to La Tercera (56 according to BioBioChile), he received a pass from Vásquez, set himself and blasted a right-footed shot past Nicola Pérez. Ñublense's only response was a shot from Lucas Molina that Castellón blocked.
The substitutes also contributed goals. At 72 minutes, Gonzalo Reyna, who had replaced Vásquez, finished with a low left-footed shot after a pass from Arce. At 75, Eduardo Vargas arrived at the far post and met a cross from Marcelo Morales. At 85, Fabián Hormazábal completed the 6-0 scoreline after an assist from Matías Zaldivia.
Tactically, Guerrero, Vásquez and Arce were a constant problem for Ñublense's three-man defence. Behind them, Charles Aránguiz and Tobías Reinhart provided support, allowing them to move freely between the lines.
The emphatic win also matters for goal difference. La Tercera notes that this factor could determine the Chile 2 berth in the Copa Libertadores if the Blues do not win the title. Six rounds remain before the end of the championship.
