Chicho Arango Included in Nacional Squad Ahead of Deportivo Cali - Atlético Nacional Clash
Atlético Nacional will travel to Palmaseca with a strengthened roster and a key selection update: Cristian 'Chicho' Arango has been named in the squad and could make his eagerly anticipated debut. The club confirmed a 20-player call-up ahead of the Liga fixture on Sunday, February 15 at 6: 30 p. m. ET, while veteran goalkeeper David Ospina remains sidelined but set to begin controlled training on Monday, February 16 ET.
Squad news and medical update
The announcement delivered the biggest surprise in the forward line. Arango, who completed his signing days earlier and has been training with the group, was not cleared in time for the previous match but has now been included and is expected to get minutes in Palmaseca. Head coach Diego Arias withheld him for the Fortaleza game to allow further preparation and fitness work; Arango’s arrival gives Nacional fresh options up front alongside Alfredo Morelos.
Injury-wise, the club confirmed that David Ospina is the lone absenteee from the matchday picture. The experienced captain continues his recovery from a muscular problem and will begin "controlled training" with the squad on Monday, February 16 ET, which suggests a fast-tracked return to availability for the next fixture. The rest of the list features an array of defenders, midfielders and forwards expected to provide depth across all lines.
Highlighted personnel included defenders Román, Tesillo, Haydar, Casco, Uribe and García; midfielders Campuzano, Zapata, Cardona, Rengifo, Bauzá and Uribe; and forwards Arango, Morelos, Moreno, Sarmiento, Bello and Rodríguez. The pool gives Arias several interchangeable options for rotations or tactical tweaks.
Tactical choices: Morelos, Arango and formation puzzles
Arango’s inclusion forces a fresh tactical calculus. Nacional’s recent switch to a 4-2-3-1 delivered balance and allowed Alfredo Morelos to thrive as the central striker, but the coach has experimented with 4-1-4-1 and other shapes in recent weeks. The pressing question is whether Arias will sacrifice a starting berth for Morelos, shift to a two-striker set such as a 4-1-3-2, or adjust the attacking midfield roles to accommodate both forwards.
Giving minutes to Arango could boost mobility and link-up play in transition, offering a different profile to Morelos’s presence in the box. With three wins from three matches played so far this league campaign — and three fixtures still pending due to earlier postponements — Nacional can afford to test combinations while managing minutes and fitness across a congested calendar.
Match context and the rivalry’s recent balance
The matchup at Palmaseca arrives with pressure on the hosts, who have struggled for consistent form and face scrutiny over their current trajectory. Historically, recent encounters between these sides have been tight: in the last five league meetings Deportivo Cali holds two wins, Nacional one and there have been two draws, with an aggregate of seven goals for Cali and six for Nacional. That pattern underlines how small margins typically decide games between these green-clad rivals.
For Nacional, the fixture is another chance to consolidate momentum and continue a positive start to the season. For Deportivo Cali, it’s an opportunity to arrest slide and regain confidence in front of their home supporters. The expected kickoff on Sunday, February 15 at 6: 30 p. m. ET should produce a competitive, closely fought contest where tactical tweaks and individual moments — perhaps the debut spark from Arango or a returning Ospina in the near future — could make the difference.
Coaches, players and supporters will be watching those fine margins closely as both sides chase points and early-season momentum.
