Atlético Nacional Faces a Strategy Test in Libertadores Debut
Verde peaceable play unfolded without goals at El Campín, a tight match marked by limited goal-scoring opportunities. The opening clash of the 2023 Copa Libertadores for Atlético Nacional offered little in the way of chances, but it set the stage for how the squad will approach a demanding group stage.
Looking ahead, Nacional’s first Libertadores test comes next Wednesday on the road against Patronato, a club based in Santa Fe, Argentina. Patronato competes from the second division and sits near the bottom of the standings, while Deportivo Morón — a side with only two wins in nine matches this year — represents another challenge in this portion of the calendar. In this context, the Colombian club might lean toward a pragmatic blueprint reminiscent of Equidad’s approach at El Campín, aiming to control space and tempo rather than chase riskier attacks.
That game produced a brief, cautious 90 minutes. Equidad, the opponent, locked down defensively and attacked with restraint, repeatedly cutting through the middle and forcing Nacional to work hard for every press. The pattern repeated late in the contest: close down, intercept, slow the pace, and repeat. Despite absences that included Candelo, Deossa, Pabón, and Jader, Equidad did not capitulate and managed to disrupt Nacional’s rhythm for most of the night, completing the match with only two sustained goal threats. The visitors demonstrated the discipline needed to slow a high-caliber opponent, a blueprint that might inform Nacional’s preparation for a difficult trip against Brigadier General Estanislao López in the near future.
Coach Autuori now faces the critical task of lifting Nacional out of what has become a familiar offensive plateau. The team has shown moments of potential, but sustained attacking threat remains inconsistent. The tactical challenge is to unlock multiple pathways to goal by adjusting alignments and movements without sacrificing defensive balance. The idea is to cultivate several keys for the same door, ensuring that strategic options aren’t reduced to a single plan that an opponent can neutralize. If Nacional cannot diversify its attacking routes, it risks sustaining a possession share around the 50 to 60 percent mark without converting that control into meaningful chances.
From a Libertadores perspective, even earning a draw away from home can hold value, given the scale and intensity of the competition. Yet the odds are steeper when facing Patronato and the potential for a head-to-head duel with Olimpia for top spot in Group H looms large. A positive start in Argentina would allow Nacional to anchor its campaign and pursue an advantage at home in the upcoming double-header against Melgar and the Paraguayan side. The path to progression often requires early momentum, especially when travel demands, climate, and unfamiliar surroundings come into play early in the group phase.
The coaching staff has emphasized months of preparation under Autuori, with the aim of presenting a team that embodies clear concepts, principles, and ideas. Four days separate Nacional from the moment when supporters expect visible progress to translate onto the field. The challenge is to showcase a squad that not only understands its system but executes it with intent under international scrutiny. In short, the Libertadores journey is just beginning, and the next performance will serve as a barometer for the level of identity the coach has been building since the midseason reshuffle.
Source: Goal