Guadalajara Reasserts Playoff Ambitions, Dispatches Real Potosí with Measured Authority in Nacional B Clash

No late drama was needed on Sunday night as CD Guadalajara engineered a timely 2-0 victory over promotion hopefuls Real Potosí, staking their claim as evolving contenders in Bolivia’s Nacional B. In a match defined by its compact midfield battles and crisp execution in key moments, Guadalajara’s efficiency proved decisive—while Real Potosí, riding a wave of recent form, found themselves undone by their own hesitancy in the final third.

The opening act was a measured one, both sides probing for weaknesses rather than exposing their own. Guadalajara, seeking to rebound from a dispiriting 0-2 defeat at Primero Mayo two weeks prior, began with an intensity that made clear their recent setback was fuel for resolve, not a sign of regression. Real Potosí—unbeaten in their last five matches, including an emphatic 2-0 win over Torre Fuerte—arrived with a sense of ascendancy and the confidence to match.

But it was Guadalajara who found clarity first. Twenty-nine minutes in, a sweeping attack down the right channeled through the industrious midfield saw the ball break kindly for the hosts in the box. A measured strike rippled the net, giving the home side a deserved 1-0 lead at the interval—a crucial psychological boost for a side that struggled to create quality chances in their previous outing.

Real Potosí, aware of their precarious position in the playoff chase, rallied after halftime. Their high press momentarily unsettled Guadalajara’s back line, but composure reigned. The visitors’ brightest spell arrived just after the hour mark, when a cross from the left narrowly evaded a lunging striker at the far post, a moment that encapsulated their evening: full of effort, lacking reward.

Guadalajara sealed the result with a clinical counter midway through the second half. A quick transition exploited space behind Potosí’s advancing fullbacks, and a deft finish from the top of the penalty area left the visiting goalkeeper rooted—a 2-0 advantage that deflated Real’s momentum and allowed the hosts to manage possession to the final whistle.

Key notes from the contest:

• Guadalajara’s midfield—the engine room throughout—dictated tempo and pressed intelligently, smothering Real Potosí’s creative outlets.
• Both goals were the result of patient buildup rather than individual brilliance, a testament to Guadalajara’s growing tactical maturity.
• No significant disciplinary incidents marred the match. While tackles flew, the referee kept cards in pocket, allowing play to flow and tempers to cool.
• The crowd, though braving the uncertainty of an “Unknown Venue” and the chill of October at altitude, rallied behind Guadalajara’s assertive game plan, their energy amplifying with each advancing minute.

For Real Potosí, this was an abrupt check to their momentum. After a string of results including two wins over Nacional Sucre and tight draws at Nueva Cliza, the visitors failed to unlock the defensive discipline that Guadalajara marshaled. This was the first time in several matches that Real Potosí failed to find the back of the net—raising questions about depth and adaptability as the pressure of the run-in looms.

In the crucible of Bolivia’s Nacional B, where the playoff picture can shift on a single result, this win is significant for Guadalajara. It lifts them back into striking distance of the upper table, providing both points and psychological edge as the season’s penultimate stretch begins. For Real Potosí, this loss spotlights a missed opportunity to solidify their claim near the summit—a result that leaves them with little margin for error in the weeks ahead.

Head-to-head encounters in recent seasons have often fallen Guadalajara’s way, and Sunday’s match affirmed the narrative of a side that refuses to wilt under playoff pressure. While league standings remain fluid pending the weekend’s full slate of results, the gap between these two sides has narrowed—setting the stage for a high-wire finish in the closing weeks of the Nacional B campaign.

As for what’s next, Guadalajara will look to sustain this renewed momentum with two critical fixtures looming. Their tactical discipline and renewed attacking verve position them as a dark horse in the promotion race. Real Potosí, meanwhile, must regroup swiftly and rediscover their attacking fluidity to avoid slipping into the fray of playoff hopefuls clawing at the margins.

October in Bolivia’s second tier is rarely forgiving. On Sunday night, Guadalajara proved they have both the character and craft to survive—and perhaps, thrive—under that weight.