Olimpia Defeats Cerro Porteño After Unusual Pregame Ritual Clash

The Paraguayan derby between archrivals Cerro Porteño and Olimpia delivered high drama both before and during kickoff on Sunday at the General Pablo Rojas stadium, commonly known as La Olla Azulgrana. Entering matchday 17 of the Torneo Clausura, the high-stakes encounter lived up to its fierce reputation with unusual pregame hurdles and decisive on-field action.

The build-up to the match featured a bizarre incident involving veteran midfielder and Olimpia captain Richard Ortíz. The 36-year-old player maintains a superstitious ritual of inspecting the opponent's pitch wearing flip-flops and sipping coffee. However, as Ortíz led his teammates out of the tunnel toward the field, the stadium gate was locked, remaining shut for several minutes.

Faced with the unexpected blockade, the visiting players voiced their frustration by singing together in the tunnel. Following a period of discussion, the gate was finally opened, allowing Ortíz to complete his traditional pregame walk onto the grass in his flip-flops alongside several teammates who also chose footwear other than standard sneakers.

Ortíz, a product of Olimpia's youth system who previously played for Toluca and Libertad, holds a long history as a nemesis for Cerro Porteño. Having scored seven goals in 50 previous derby appearances—including a memorable scissor kick that helped secure the 2002 Clausura title—he once again started in the heart of the midfield under manager Pablo Sánchez.

Olimpia entered the match facing several roster challenges, missing players such as Juan Vera, Juan Fernando Alfaro, and Hugo Sandoval due to ongoing physical issues. Nevertheless, manager Sánchez deployed a competitive starting lineup featuring Olveira in goal, alongside defenders Cáceres, Bentaberry, Gamarra, and Rodríguez, and an attacking structure boasting Franco, Ortíz, Delmás, Cardozo, Alfonso, and Ávalos.

The tactical setup paid off as Olimpia capitalized on the pitch to claim a 1-0 lead over their traditional rivals. The lone goal of the match came from 19-year-old forward Eduardo Delmás, who delivered a stunning strike to break the deadlock.

With the hard-fought victory, Olimpia strengthened their position at the top of the standings, moving clear with 36 points and establishing a four-point advantage over second-place Nacional. Meanwhile, Cerro Porteño remained stranded on 24 points, sitting in seventh place with five full rounds of matches remaining in the tournament.