Millonarios claimed a hard-fought victory by 1-0 against At. Nacional in the fifth round of Group B in the Primera División. The decisive moment came just before halftime when Radamel Falcao scored, changing the dynamics of the match.
At. Nacional came close to leveling the score but found themselves frustrated as Jorman Campuzano hit the post twice, denying his team a chance to celebrate.
Despite their efforts, At. Nacional outshot their opponents significantly with 19 attempts on goal, but they could not convert those opportunities into goals, ultimately settling for a disappointing defeat.
Falcao was undoubtedly the star of the match, not only scoring the sole goal but also taking three shots on target. Additionally, Helibelton Palacios played a crucial role in defense for Millonarios, making seven vital clearances.
The strategy for At. Nacional, managed by Javier Gandolfi, was a 4-5-1 formation featuring David Ospina as goalkeeper, supported by a defensive line of Joan Castro, Juan Arias, William Tesillo, and Camilo Cándido. The midfield comprised Juan Manuel Zapata, Jorman Campuzano, Marino Hinestroza, Billy Arce, and Andrés Sarmiento, with Alfredo Morelos leading the attack.
In contrast, the Millonarios, under David González, lined up in a similar 4-5-1 formation, led by goalkeeper Álvaro Montero. Their defense consisted of Helibelton Palacios, Andrés Llinás, Jorge Arias, and Danovis Banguero, while the midfield featured Nicolás Árevalo, Stiven Vega, Daniel Ruiz, Daniel Cataño, and Jader Valencia, with Radamel Falcao spearheading the front line.
The match was officiated by referee Bismark Santiago Pitalua.
Looking ahead, At. Nacional will face Once Caldas in their next fixture, while Millonarios will host their historical rival Santa Fe at Estadio Nemesio Camacho, a highly anticipated encounter in the Bogotá derby.
Substitutions for At. Nacional
55’ 2T – Kevin Viveros replaced Andrés Sarmiento
73’ 2T – Dairon Asprilla replaced Billy Arce
Cautions for At. Nacional:
30’ 1T Juan Manuel Zapata (Unsporting behavior), 39’ 1T Billy Arce (Holding an opponent to prevent advancing), 42’ 2T Juan Arias (Unsporting behavior), 44’ 2T Javier Gandolfi (Insulting or disapproving the referee), and 50’ 2T William Tesillo (Unsporting behavior)
Substitutions for Millonarios
62’ 2T – Kevin Palacios replaced Jader Valencia
63’ 2T – Santiago Giordana replaced Radamel Falcao
71’ 2T – Jhon Córdoba replaced Daniel Cataño
86’ 2T – Juan Carlos Pereira replaced Stiven Vega
Cautions for Millonarios:
7’ 1T Daniel Cataño (Unsporting behavior) and 24’ 2T Santiago Giordana (Unsporting behavior)