Atlético Nacional and Millonarios played to a 1-1 draw in a high-intensity Colombian league classic at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot on Thursday, September 24, 2026. Goals from Julián Angulo for the visiting side and Andrés Reyes for the hosts shared the points in front of more than 40,000 spectators, leaving both clubs near the upper reaches of the Liga BetPlay standings.
Set-Piece Battles Shape First-Half Action
The fixture delivered immediate drama when Atlético Nacional lost forward Cristian “Chicho” Arango to a right knee injury in the early minutes. Arango went down after a challenge with Stiven Vega, attempted to continue, but ultimately made way for Andrés Sarmiento in the 14th minute.
Despite controlling early possession, Nacional struggled to break down a resilient Millonarios defensive block. The visitors capitalized on their defensive solidity in the 39th minute. Daniel Ruiz swung in a corner kick that Danovis Banguero redirected off the crossbar, allowing Julián Angulo to pounce on the rebound and drive the ball past goalkeeper Franco Armani to make it 0-1.
Nacional found a swift response just before the halftime whistle. In the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Elías Cabrera delivered a corner kick that found Andrés Reyes, who connected with a powerful header to level the score at 1-1.
James Rodríguez Debuts at the Atanasio
The second half saw Nacional press forward with greater intensity in search of a winner. Javier Burrai produced crucial saves for Millonarios, denying Andrés Román in the 48th minute, while a subsequent effort from Ian Poveda struck the woodwork.
The match marked a major milestone as James Rodríguez made his home debut for Nacional after entering the pitch around the hour mark. The playmaker tested the defense with a long-range strike from the edge of the area and later forced a stoppage-time free kick that Stiven Barreiro cleared off the goal line.
Nacional finished the match with ten men after Andrés Sarmiento received a direct red card in the 84th minute following a VAR review of a challenge on Rodrigo Ureña.
Standings and Upcoming Fixtures
Atlético Nacional sits third with 19 points from nine matches, ceding its first home points of the semester.
Looking ahead, Atlético Nacional pauses domestic competition to host Chapecoense in an international friendly on Saturday, September 26, at 4:00 p.m. local time. Meanwhile, Millonarios returns to Liga BetPlay action away against Independiente Medellín on Tuesday, September 29, at 8:05 p.m. local time.
Worth a look
