Since they started the short tournaments in Colombia, in 2002, National Athletic has disputed 14 back and forth sets. In the first match he was defeated. Of these series, won nine times y in five he couldn’t come back.
The five series where he could not come back were: in the final against America of Cali for the I-2002 League, (they fell 2-1 in the first leg in Cali), the final against Independent Medellin for the I-2004 League (lost as a visitor by 2-1), the final against Junior from Barranquilla in Liga II-2004 (lost in Barranquilla by 3-0), the quarterfinals of Liga II-2017 against Sports Tolima (lost in Ibagué by 1-0) and in the quarterfinals of the I-2021 League against Equity (they fell 1-0 in the first leg and drew 2-2 in the second leg).
The series in which he could prevail:
Quarterfinals League I-2011
In the quarterfinals against Deportivo Cali of the I-2011 League, the greens of Antioquia had been defeated at the Palmaseca stadium by 1-0. In the second leg played in Cúcuta because Nacional could not play their game at the Atanasio, they equalized the series, forcing a penalty shootout where the Medellín team advanced to the semifinals where they faced Deportes Tolima.
Final League I-2011
Precisely against the insurance team, Nacional had a case in which they had lost the first leg, this time in the final and by 2-1. For the second leg, the purslane equalized the series and with a great performance by Gastón Pezzuti, the Antioquians got the eleventh star.
Semifinal Liga I-2014
Independiente Santa Fe had prevailed in the first leg 1-0 at El Campín, while, in the second leg at Atanasio, the Greens managed to win 2-0 with goals from Juan David Valencia and Jefferson Duque to sign his passage to the grand final against Junior from Barranquilla.
Final League I-2014
As in 2004, Junior managed to prevail in his stadium, this time with a minimal advantage. The second leg at the Atanasio had a purslane team attentive to reverse the result with goals from Alexis Henríquez and a memorable Jhon Valoy in stoppage time. In penalties, Franco Armani stole the show to conquer the Colombian three-time championship.
Semifinal Liga II-2015
Independiente Medellín had taken advantage in the first leg by the minimum, in a stadium full of red fans who already saw a new final close. However, the purslane managed to quickly come back from the series with goals from Yimmi Chará and Jefferson Duque to confirm their passage to the final game of the year, where they would face Junior from Barranquilla.
Final League II-2015
Atlético Nacional reached the final against Junior and in Barranquilla they had lost 2-1. The return at the Atanasio, with just over 45,000 spectators, one minute was enough for those led by Reinaldo Rueda to equalize the series thanks to Marlos Moreno, who at 31 seconds scored the 1-0 that forced the penalty shootout, where Again Franco Armani was a figure in the star number 15 of the Antioquians.
Quarterfinals League II-2016
The 2016 League II quarterfinal series had Nacional against Millonarios. The first leg in Bogotá decreed a 2-1 victory for the Albiazules. However, in the second leg, Rueda’s team managed to come back with a categorical 3-0, to advance to the semifinals where they would face Independiente Santa Fe.
Final League I-2017
The final match between Atlético Nacional and Deportivo Cali marked the advantage in the first leg in Palmaseca by 2-0, which could have been more goals if not for Armani and the sticks. The second leg at the Atanasio left a very strong Antioquian team physically and mentally, thrashing the sugar producers 5-1, being the last star for the Antioquians.
Quarterfinals – League I-2018
Once again, Cali and Nacional faced each other in a back-and-forth series. In Palmaseca, Deportivo Cali won by the minimum, but in the second leg at the Atanasio, the victory went to the Antioquians, with a resounding 2-0 in a preponderant night by Dayro Moreno.
Data thanks to Javier Danilo Correa – on twitter @jdanilocorrea
Juan Camilo Alvarez Serrano
FUTBOLRED Correspondent
Medellín
En Twitter: @juanchoserran8
