Atlético Nacional receives this Thursday, from 7:30 p.m. Envigado Fútbol Club, for the seventh date in the BetPlay II-2022 League. The Purslane need a win to get into the top eight and, by the way, move into second place in the table. In front is the orange team, which sails in the middle of the table and wants to surprise.
Nacional to maintain the winning path in the Atanasio against Envigado
The maximum stage of the Antioquians has been a very strong redoubt for Nacional. Despite not being one of the best locals, in the last three games playing at the Atanasio, they won two games. Which shows efficiency playing at Atanasio. As for the absences, Cristian Castro Devenish and Jhon Duque remain in the medical department. While Yerson Candelo has been working with the team for a couple of weeks and was called up for this meeting.
The coach Hernán Darío Herrera valued Envigado and trusts in a victory for his team to be better positioned in the table. “Envigado is a great rival, a team that has always complicated us. They play well and we have to look for a victory that allows us to take second place. We have prepared well, we have the strategy to face them and we are confident of achieving a good result”.
In addition, “we have alternatives for defense. Envigado is a team with 4-4-2, they have other structures and we must see if we put a single brand midfielder or with another structure. Kevin Mier will cover against Envigado, he returns on Wednesday from Bogotá. Yerson Candelo is already available for the payroll, let’s hope he can pass whether we call him up or not”.
For his part, Alexander Mejía commented that “first we will face Envigado, they are young people with experience, they are daring, they propose, they have a clear idea of the game. We must counteract these virtues, go through the spaces and take advantage of that impetus of youth that they have. You have to hold the ball, make it uncomfortable and be careful when transitioning from defense to attack”.
The Barranquilla player stressed that “it is a week of two games, which we hope will be positive. We are evolving and in each game we want to show better performance. We all want to play, I enjoy every day to the fullest. I control my bad temper and know how to deal with not acting often, you don’t have to be selfish. Envigado is a very interesting team, with players like Rojas, Zapata, Moreno. They play well and have a good present and an extraordinary future”.
Envigado recovered its leader Francisco Báez for this key meeting
The Paraguayan overcame his muscular discomfort that had kept him away from the competition for two weeks. “It was difficult not to be in these games, but I am strong, motivated to play again and contribute to the team. We need to win and we are confident that we can get a good result. Nacional has a very brave fan base, I respect them a lot, we have to work very hard to counteract their virtues”, stated Francisco Báez.
The strategist Alberto Suárez pointed out that “playing in Montería was complicated, due to the weather and others, we added a point, we have the entire squad available and face a very complex game, with a lot of physical effort. Santiago Jiménez suffered a cramp, but he is fine now”.
About the match, the Valle del Cauca coach commented that “Facing Nacional is a positive and motivational feeling, it is a game of obligations for both teams, we want to be higher in the table, we go with all the responsibility to face the biggest rival there is in Colombia and we hope to achieve a great result. Playing with people is very rich against a great rival, people are going to enjoy it a lot”.
Data between Atlético Nacional and Envigado Fútbol Club
For the Colombian League, Atlético Nacional and Envigado Fútbol Club met 80 times, with 40 purslane wins, 22 draws and 18 wins for the oranges. 83 goals for and 121 against.
Atlético Nacional has accumulated seven games without losing at home to Envigado in the First Division (5 wins, 1 draw), scoring a goal in each of them (2.2 per game), since a 0-1 loss in August 2014.
Atlético Nacional won three of their last four matches in Liga BetPlay II-2022 (1 draw), adding just one win less than in their previous 17 top-flight matches (4 wins, 8 draws, 5 losses).
Envigado has scored a goal in just three of their last 10 First Division away games (1 win, 3 draws, 6 losses), after not having scored in just one of their previous 10 visits in the category (2 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses).
Emanuel Olivera is the only Atlético Nacional footballer who has played every possible minute in Liga II-2022 (630), being the second purslane player with the most interventions (365 touches) and attempted passes (289) in the tournament.
Envigado had, in their most recent match against Jaguares de Córdoba, their lowest possession average in the BetPlay II-2022 League (46.1%).
The top scorer in the duel between Nacional and Envigado is Néider Morantes with 8 goals, all in orange. He is followed by Víctor Hugo Aristizábal with 6, Juan Pablo Ángel with 5, as well as Alex Comas.
Envigado Fútbol Club has not beaten Nacional, since date 19 of the I-2019 League. When the oranges won 4-0, with goals from Neyder Moreno, Alexis Zapata, Michael Nike Gómez and Cristian Arrieta. Nacional accumulates five games without losing against Envigado, adding three wins and two draws.
The last win for Envigado FC at Atanasio over Nacional was for the first date in the I-2011 League. The oranges won 2-3, with goals from Jonny Mosquera and a brace from Néider Morantes, in Nacional Carlos Rentería and Dorlan Pabón scored.
Likely lineups
National Athletic: Kevin Mier; Yerson Candelo, Emmanuel Olivera, Alvaro Angle, Danovis Banguero; Sebastian Gomez, Nelson Palace, Jarlan Barrier, Dorlan Pabon, Daniel Mantilla; Jefferson Duke.
D.T.: Hernan Dario Herrera.
Envigado FC: Philip Parra; Daniel Londoño, Francisco Báez, Santiago Jiménez, Carlos Ordoñez; Ivan Rojas, Juan Manuel Zapata, Diego Moreno; Ever Valencia, Henry Mosquera, Jose Hernandez.
D.T.: Albert Suarez.
Hour: 7:30 p.m.
Estadio: Athanasius Girardot.
Referee: Bismarks Santiago (Atlantic).
WAS: Mauricio Perez (Antioquia).
TV: Win Sports +.
Juan Camilo Alvarez Serrano
FUTBOLRED Correspondent
Medellín
En Twitter: @juanchoserran8
