Once Caldas Leads Atlético Nacional 1-0 in Copa BetPlay Semifinal
Once Caldas secured a 1-0 advantage against Atlético Nacional at the Palogrande stadium in Manizales during the first leg of the 2026 Copa BetPlay semifinals on Tuesday, November 10, at 8:30 p.m., as reported.
The home side capitalized on tactical spaces when Jefry Zapata delivered a precise cross for Pipe Gómez, who connected with a header to open the scoring, according to AS Colombia. Nacional generated offensive danger through James Rodríguez, but goalkeeper Johan Parra stopped a dangerous shot, and Michael Barrios missed an opportunity to extend the lead for Manizales on a fast break.
History of Copa Libertadores Champions
The semifinal pairing brings together the only two Colombian clubs to win the Copa Libertadores, as El Colombiano noted. Atlético Nacional lifted the continental trophy in 1989 and 2016, while Once Caldas claimed the title in 2004. This shared international pedigree shapes the fixture beyond a standard domestic cup match.
Several key players share histories with both institutions. Midfielder Juan Pablo Nieto and striker Dayro Moreno both line up for Once Caldas after previous stints with Nacional, while Alexis Henríquez stands out as an established figure who won the Copa Libertadores with both clubs, per El Colombiano.
Spectators Expect High Demand for Once Caldas Semifinal
Fans formed long lines outside the Palogrande stadium days before kickoff, with approximately 26,000 spectators expected for the opening leg, La Patria reported. The fixture marks Once Caldas’s first appearance in the Copa semifinals in eight years, following their 2018 run against Millonarios.
Once Caldas manager Carlos Valencia has nearly his full roster available, missing only midfielder Andrés Felipe Roa while carrying an eight-match unbeaten run featuring five wins and three draws into the semifinal, according to La Patria.
Upcoming Match Schedule
The semifinal series continues with the return leg scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, at the Atanasio Girardot stadium in Medellín, where Atlético Nacional will host the decisive match, Win Sports reported. Before that second leg, the two teams meet again at the Atanasio Girardot on Saturday, November 14, at 15:30 for a Liga BetPlay fixture, as detailed by Sporting News.
Atlético Nacional enters the closing stretch of the league phase already securing the invisible advantage for the upcoming semifinals, while Once Caldas holds the eighth position and requires points to protect its standing in the table, Sporting News reported.
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