Atlético Nacional carries a 2-1 lead into Tuesday’s second leg against Internacional de Bogotá, with 90 minutes left to settle a place in the Liga Betplay-1 semifinals. The match is set for Tuesday, May 12, at 6:20 p. m. at the Atanasio Girardot in Medellín.
Juan Manuel Rengifo and an own goal by goalkeeper Simón Zapata gave Nacional its advantage in Bogotá, while Ian Poveda scored for Internacional de Bogotá. Harlen ‘Chipi Chipi’ Castillo was in goal for Nacional in the first leg, as David Ospina missed the trip because of physical discomfort.
Diego Arias said the opener felt difficult from the start and described Internacional de Bogotá as a tough opponent because of the quality of its players and the way it earned its place in the playoff. He said Nacional took a first step in the series and hoped to finish the job at home with its supporters behind it.
The return match comes with recent history on Nacional’s side. The teams last met at the Atanasio on March 21, when Nacional won 3-0 behind goals from Rengifo, Alfredo Morelos and Matías Lozano. In club-reported history against Internacional de Bogotá, previously La Equidad, Nacional has 19 wins, 16 losses and 14 draws, and its home record in 49 league meetings stands at 9 wins, 10 draws and 5 losses.
That background matters because the tie is still not decided. Castillo said after the first leg that Nacional has not won anything yet, warning that the visitors can still do damage in Medellín and urging a full stadium for the return. With a semifinal place hanging on one night, the pressure now shifts from protecting an away win to finishing the series in front of home fans.
