Captain Out, New Faces In: U de Chile’s Surprising Lineup for Coquimbo Clash

Universidad de Chile is heading north for a critical match against Coquimbo Unido on Saturday, but their captain, Marcelo Díaz, will not be joining them. The team is in need of a win against the Pirates, who have been a thorn in their side under coach Gustavo Álvarez, and are already facing key absences due to suspensions. The club confirmed that Díaz is among the players left off the travel roster for the upcoming match, adding to the growing list of absences that includes Matias Zaldivia and Israel Poblete. The club’s website, Emisora Bullanguera, confirmed that the captain will be sitting out the game, making it the third player who won’t be available for the clash. This news follows the omission of other players who have fallen out of favor with Álvarez, including Ignacio Tapia and Luciano Pons. However, there are also some new faces joining the team, including Antonio Díaz, who has been out for the last two games, as well as José Castro. Federico Mateos is also back in contention for a spot in the lineup.