IBAGUÉ, Colombia (Interstat) — Deportes Tolima will host Deportivo Pereira on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in a Copa Colombia first-round match at Estadio Manuel Murillo Toro. The two sides meet in a two-legged tie, with the return leg scheduled for May 23 in Pereira.

Tolima enters the game on a high note after a 4-2 home victory over Atlético Nacional on March 1, 2026. That result reversed a 4-2 loss at Nacional just four days earlier, on Feb. 27, 2026. The Vinotinto y Oro will look to build on that momentum in front of their home crowd.

Pereira, meanwhile, last played on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, when they fell 2-1 at Envigado. That defeat ended a run of inconsistent form for the visiting team, which has not played a competitive match in more than seven months. The extended layoff could prove challenging for coach Alejandro Restrepo’s side.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the match is projected to end in a 1-1 draw. However, the same service’s ELO-based rating system gives Tolima an 82.60 percent probability of winning, suggesting a strong home advantage.

Saturday’s fixture marks the first of two consecutive meetings between the clubs. They will face again at Pereira’s Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas on May 23, also in the Copa Colombia. The aggregate winner advances to the next round.

Tolima’s attack will likely rely on forward Fernando Uribe, who scored twice against Nacional in March. Pereira will need a disciplined defensive effort to contain Tolima’s pressing style, especially after their long inactive stretch.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time at the 28,000-seat stadium. The winner of the two-legged series will move on in the single-elimination tournament, which features clubs from Colombia’s top two divisions.