With only pride to play for during the remaining moments of the group stage, Nacional welcome Atletico Nacional to Estadio Gran Parque Central in the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday evening.
Bolsilludo are unable to make a top-two finish regardless of the results on matchday six, whilst Los Verdolagas are aiming to secure first place in the section.
Match preview
© Imago
Winning one, drawing one and losing three of their opening five matches of the Copa Libertadores group stage, Nacional of Uruguay are unable to secure a top-two placement and qualify for the knockout stages on matchday six after collecting just four points to date in the section.
As a result, Bolsilludo are lying four points behind second-placed Nacional, meaning that qualification is not a possibility, so the hosts will be forced to play for pride on Wednesday night in front of their passionate home support at Estadio Gran Parque Central in Montevideo.
Despite their struggles on the continental stage, Nacional have performed admirably on the domestic front in recent times, winning back-to-back matches versus Defensor Sporting and Progreso on home soil, scoring three goals and conceding just once across that particular pair of matches.
Bolsilludo have won five of their last six matches across all competitions but have failed miserably at home in the Copa Libertadores so far, losing both games at Estadio Gran Parque Central to Internacional and Bahia without finding the net in either contest.
Since the narrow 1-0 success over Bahia on home soil in the Copa Libertadores on May 14, Atletico Nacional have suffered consecutive domestic defeats for the first time November 2024, losing against both Aguilas Doradas and title-chasing Junior FC last time out.
Los Verdolagas came out on the wrong side of a five-goal thriller on the weekend but managed to enjoy some successful moments during the second period, when Billy Arce and Kevin Viveros breached the net of the visitors.
Providing the assist for Atletico's second goal on Sunday, Alfredo Morelos is continuing to have a telling impact at the top end of the pitch at the age of 28, with the former Rangers marksman scoring six goals and setting up six goals across 17 top-flight matches in Colombia.
Focusing on Copa Libertadores matters, Los Verdolagas are sitting pretty at the summit of standings, knowing that a victory on Wednesday night would be enough to crown them as winners of Group F in the competition.
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Team News
After failing to keep a clean sheet last time out in this competition, Nacional could opt to change the centre-back pairing of Sebastian Coates and Julian Millan.
In that case, Bolsilludo are likely to turn to the exuberance of youth, with 19-year-old Paolo Calione pushing for a start for the hosts.
Atletico Nacional should stick with the side that brought them success versus Bahia, meaning that Edwin Cardona and Marino Hinestroza should start in attack alongside Arce and Viveros.
There are a number of notable attackers who are banging on the door of the starting XI for Los Verdolagas, including Morelos and Dairon Asprilla.
Nacional possible starting lineup:
Mejia; Morales, Calione, Millan, Baez; Boggio, Oliva, Villalba, Petit, Lanz; Lopez
Atletico Nacional possible starting lineup:
Castillo; Roman, Arias, Tesillo, Candido; Campuzano, Uribe, Hinestroza, Cardona, Arce; Viveros
We say: Nacional 0-1 Atletico Nacional
Already out of contention to make the knockout stages, Nacional could be low on motivation for Wednesday night's clash at Estadio Gran Parque Central.
In theory, this should allow Atletico Nacional to sweep in and claim all three points, taking top spot in Group F at the same time.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
