If there is a rival that has made Atlético Nacional suffer in recent tournaments, it is Atlético Huila. With 'Pecoso' Castro and José Fernando Santa on the bench, they have become a dangerous, organized, and physical team, which plays great matches when they face a green jersey.
The last encounter between the 'verdolagas' and the 'opitas', which was played at the Atanasio Girardot, ended with a 1-2 defeat for the home team with goals from Camilo Ayala, Elacio Córdoba, and Juan David Valencia. So, the Antiochian squad is in need of a victory that breaks that trend.
"Huila is a tough rival. They deserve all my admiration and respect. It will be a very intense match, because of what they have and our style of play," expressed coach Reinaldo Rueda, who recently spoke with the coaching staff of the Huila team to "congratulate them on their excellent work and how well their team plays."
Nacional has lost four of the last five games against the 'opitas'. There is a debt pending. But it won't be easy to settle it against a team that is no longer underestimated. "Huila was about to fight for the title (...) I never use the term 'small team.' They are developing teams that are difficult to deal with," said the coach.
After registering a 2-0 victory against Águilas Doradas and drawing 0-0 with Independiente Medellín, the green team hopes to achieve its first away victory. This time it will be at the Centenario de Armenia stadium, where they will clash with Atlético Huila on Saturday (6:00 p.m.) in the third match of the Liga Águila II-2015.
"I hope Nacional raises their level. We cannot settle because this is a long and competitive tournament. The rivals are consolidating and no one can rest on their laurels," said the coach.
The inclusion of Daniel Bocanegra and Yimmi Chará among the travelers became the novelty of the green squad for the match against José Fernando Santa's team. In the last practices, both players were tested and entered as replacements for Gilberto García and Luis Carlos Ruiz.
If he plays, Bocanegra will end a 128-day period without competing, after suffering a serious knee injury that ruled him out of the Apertura and the Copa América in Chile. His last appearance was in the Copa Libertadores against Barcelona from Ecuador.
The coaching staff will use the same lineup that drew 0-0 in the clásico paisa 285. Although there was hope for the return of Bogota goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, he was ultimately not included in the group of players that traveled to Armenia.
Possible lineup
Nacional: Franco Armani; Gilberto García, Francisco Nájera, Óscar Murillo, Farid Díaz; Alejandro Bernal, Alexánder Mejía; Orlando Berrío, Macnelly Torres, Jonathan Copete; Luis Carlos Ruiz. Coach: Reinaldo Rueda.