21/03/2023
The Copa Libertadores is getting closer and Conmebol, the entity that organizes it, gave the order of the drums that the teams will occupy for the draw (March 27, 4:00 pm) for the group stage.
As is traditional, the 32 qualifiers will be divided into 8 groups of four each.
Although to National Athletic it was not enough to integrate the bolillero one, in which the eight best ranked clubs in South America appear, it was in the second and will avoid weight rivals such as International, Corinthians, Fluminense y Racing that appear next to him in this area.
But it might face one of the qualifiers of the bolillero four, made up of the four teams that reached the group stage and last ranked by Conmebol: Deportivo Pereira (Colombia), Liverpool (Uruguay), Patronato (Argentina) and Ñublense (Chile), and those who come from the previous phase: Independiente Medellín (Colombia), Atlético Mineiro (Brazil), Cerro Porteño (Paraguay) and Sporting Cristal (Peru).
Although the draw regulations specify that two teams from the same country cannot be part of the same group, there is an exception if one of them comes from the qualifying phase. Thus, the DIM might enter the National group. This would give a special color to the contest for Colombia due to the rivalry that exists between the two.
In addition, there would be other strong opponents of the hype, one like Flamengo, River o Boca Juniorswhich have mystique and cup history.
It should be noted that there will be no groups with two Argentine teams because of the four qualifiers from that country that come from phase three, none are of gaucho origin.
Pereira might not come across Nacional because although they are in different drums, the Matecaña team qualified directly for the contest for being the current Colombian soccer champion. And he might not face the DIM, since they are part of the same bolillero.
From now on the classic beats
On the other hand, this Saturday the greens and reds will face each other in a new edition of the classic paisa in Colombian soccer.
Nacional is in third position with 16 points, the same as the leader Chicó who wins the box by goal difference (+7 for +5). Medellín is regarding to enter the group of eight, due to its reaction in the League.
This duel comes at a time when both clubs are in good shape and have found positive results that confirm this.
The ticket office for this meeting is already available. The purslane will be local for box office purposes. The prices for popular south and north are $40,000; Oriental low $60,000, Oriental high $70,000. Meanwhile, Occidental Baja costs $105,000 and Occidental Alta $115,000. Tickets for the VIP grandstand cost $290,000. For the audience they are already sold out.
Both teams are waiting for the recovery of several players to have their best payrolls in the first classic of the year, which will begin at 6:20 in the followingnoon at the Atanasio Girardot stadium.
