Table-topping Ateneo and fierce rival De La Salle clash today (Thursday) in the UAAP Season 81 men’s football tournament at the FEU-Diliman pitch.
The Blue Eagles hope to avenge their 1-2 loss to the Green Archers at the end of the first round in the match scheduled at 3:30 p.m.
In other fixtures, Far Eastern University plays National University at 9 a.m., while University of Santo Tomas and University of the East collide at 1:30 p.m.
After losing to De La Salle, Ateneo went into another goalscoring spree with 11 in the last two matches to seize the top spot with 16 points.
The Archers, for their part, are trying to get within the top four range. De La Salle is level with defending champion University of the Philippines in fourth spot with 13 points, but the Taft-based squad has an inferior goal difference.
Jarvey Gayoso, who leads all goalscorers with seven, will banner the Eagles’ charge. De La Salle was successful in neutralizing Gayoso in their first meeting with Ateneo.
The Tamaraws’ second-round struggles continued, as they yielded the lead to the Eagles following last Sunday’s 0-1 loss to the Growling Tigers.
FEU is running in second place with 15 points, one clear of third-place UST.
With 10 and eight points, respectively, the Bulldogs and the Red Warriors cannot afford to drop points from now on to keep their Final Four hopes alive.