Atlético Nacional - Alianza: how selection dilemmas could reshape Nacional’s momentum and rotation

The tactical choices around the Atlético Nacional - Alianza match matter because they could change who carries the load for Nacional in a compact stretch of fixtures. Nacional arrives seeking recovery after a 1-0 loss to Deportivo Cali, while roster puzzles — including the push for Jorman Campuzano to start and competing published XI lists — may force rotation that affects form and confidence heading into a crucial continental date on March 4. Here's the part that matters for supporters: the coach’s picks now will set immediate tone and squad usage.

Atlético Nacional - Alianza: consequences for midfield balance, rotation and home momentum

Campuzano’s fitness and fans’ call for him to start create a clear tactical consequence: inserting a defensive midfielder who specializes in recovery and structured ball progression changes the midfield profile. That selection could displace either Juan Manuel Zapata — whose work-rate and tactical order have been highlighted as key so far — or Matheus Uribe, whose international experience contributes leadership and forward thrust from the second line. Any choice risks upsetting a midfield that has shown collective cohesion, so the coach faces a trade-off between immediate balance and reintegrating a recovered player.

It’s easy to overlook, but the bigger signal here is how those midfield decisions ripple into substitutions and workload management for upcoming fixtures. Maintaining home form at the Atanasio Girardot is being treated as a priority, and lineup shifts now will determine whether the team preserves confidence or needs further rebuilding after the recent defeat.

Match specifics and the differing XI signals

The game will be played at the Atanasio Girardot and is scheduled for Saturday, 21 February at 6: 20 p. m. (hora Colombia). Nacional is preparing to host a side that has struggled in the current campaign, while the home team aims to reassert itself in the upper part of the table.

Published lists for the starting XI diverge. One available list shows a Nacional starting lineup featuring Harlen Castillo in goal; Andrés Román, Simón García, William Tesillo and Milton Casco in defense; Kevin Zapata and Matheus Uribe in midfield; Edwin Cardona behind Andrés Sarmiento, Marlos Moreno and Alfredo Morelos up front. Another published list presents a different setup: a 4-2-3-1 formation with Jorman Campuzano paired with Matheus Uribe as the double pivot, Juan Manuel Rengifo in place of Edwin Cardona, Cristian 'Chicho' Arango on the right wing and Samuel Velásquez in defense, plus a note that David Ospina could return to the starting role in goal. These discrepancies mean the exact XI is still unclear and should be treated as developing information.

The visiting lineup that appears in available lists names Juan Chaverra in goal with Banguero, Viveros, Pedro Franco and Lasso in defensive roles, and Meza Pardo, Felipe Pardo, Valencia, Muñoz and Fiorelli involved in midfield and attack. Alianza arrives from a difficult run in the table and seeks its first wins of the championship.

• Home context: Nacional aims to use the Atanasio Girardot as a platform to recover after a 1-0 defeat to Deportivo Cali.
• Selection dilemma: reintegrating Campuzano affects whether Zapata or Uribe gives way; each option brings a different tactical profile.
• XI uncertainty: published lists conflict on the goalkeeper and several starters, so the starting eleven remains a developing detail.
• Fixture pressure: results now feed into morale ahead of the continental match scheduled for March 4.

The real question now is how the coach balances local expectations, squad fitness and the need to protect a favorable run of results at home. If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up, it’s because the selection between stability and change will shape substitutions, minutes distribution and immediate momentum.

Key takeaways: the match is set for the Atanasio Girardot on Saturday at 6: 20 p. m. (hora Colombia); Campuzano pushing for a start forces a midfield choice with tangible consequences; published XI lists differ, including conflicting notes about the goalkeeper and back line; Alianza enters needing positive results while Nacional wants to restore form after the recent loss.

What’s easy to miss is how much a single starting decision in midfield can alter match tempo and substitution patterns; that nuance explains why lineups are drawing so much attention ahead of kickoff.