Nacional will visit Cortuluá in
his first League match, from 4:05 pm
Four years without celebrating a league title in Colombia is a long time for a team with the history of Atlético Nacional. For this reason, starting this Saturday when the Antioquia team faces Cortuluá (4:05 pm), they will seek to begin to pave the way for their star number 17, which has eluded them since 2017.
With this objective, he invested some 4 million dollars in reinforcements: Álex Mejía, Daniel Mantilla, Jhon Duque, Álvaro Angulo and Giovanni Moreno. He also renewed the confidence of a controversial goalkeeper like Aldair Quintana despite the resistance of a sector of the fans and attached to the good numbers of the Tolimense in the last League, despite the fact that he did not manage to reach the final.
Likewise, the directors maintained their support for the project initiated by coach Alejandro Restrepo and decided to strengthen it by complementing it with another experienced coach such as Carlos “Piscis” Restrepo.
All these bets are expected to bear fruit from this first match against Cortuluá, a team that Nacional did not face, precisely since 2017 when they were league champions for the last time.
“It is a team that we do not have many references for, to which players who were loaned to other clubs returned, but which has always been strong at home and which we respect as well as the others who will play in the League,” Restrepo said before travel to Valle del Cauca soil.
low purslane
The absences that the green will have for this premiere are those of Tomás Ángel and Hayen Palacios, both positive for covid; Neither will Felipe Aguilar, in the physical reconditioning stage after having also suffered from the virus and would return for the duel on the second date against Junior.
In the same circumstances is the goalkeeper Aldair Quintana, who is also recovering from osteopathy of the pubis.
Baldomero Perlaza, who is still in the process of recovering from the ankle injury he suffered in the home runs of the previous League and would be returning for dates 6 or 7, will not play in the paisa team. To replace these players, the coach would have Kevin Mier in goal, while Juan David Cabal would be in Felipe Aguilar’s position.
“We are working as a center back, which is a position that I know, they saw my qualities and the teacher knows me from the sub-20 there and also as a winger,” said Cabal.
Another of the alternatives to accompany Emanuel Olivera before Cortulá is that of Cristian Castro.
It was striking that Andrés “El Rifle” Andrade did not appear among those summoned, who will not be part of the commitment to the Valle del Cauca club due to a technical decision. In his place would act Yeison Guzmán, who finished the previous League with a good level.
statistics
In the last 10 meetings between the two there were 5 wins for Nacional, 3 wins for Cortuluá and 2 draws.
The last victory for the green team at the Doce de Octubre stadium was on April 10, 2010, 0-2 with a double by Orlando Berrío.
These squads had not met in the first division since September 27, 2017, a match that Nacional won 3-0 with a brace from Dayro Moreno and another goal from Andrés Rentería.
The cast from Antioquia will seek to leave behind the record that it drags from the previous League. Add five visits without winning (4 draws and one loss). In addition, he wants to start the contest on the right foot and then welcome another of the favorites this season, Junior from Barranquilla
