🏆Nacional and DIM ready for the first final

The Atanasio Girardot Stadium will be dressed for the occasion this Saturday to host the first leg of the Copa BetPlay 2025 final between Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellín (5:00 p.m., Win Sports +). Both teams are looking to close the season with a title in a historic showdown, as they have never faced each other in the final of this tournament before.

How do they arrive?

Nacional, seeking their eighth Copa Colombia, comes into the clásico after showing great strength by defeating América de Cali 6-3 on aggregate in the semifinals. Meanwhile, the "Poderoso de la Montaña" (who are aiming for their fourth Copa title) secured their spot by beating Envigado 2-1.

Despite not having won any of the six clásicos played this year (with two draws and four losses), DIM’s coach Alejandro Restrepo remains optimistic: "History is meant to be changed, we are here and we have that opportunity, now we have to take advantage of it with all our people."

Hierarchy and revenge

The "verdolagas," led by Diego Arias, have high-profile players such as David Ospina, Alfredo Morelos, and Edwin Cardona, who lead the dream of lifting a new trophy. Ospina acknowledged that, although they missed out on the league, the team is focused on this goal, hoping to "make the most of it."

This clásico is only the second definitive final between the two in more than two decades, reviving the precedent of the 2004 Apertura Tournament, when Medellín was crowned league champion. The final will conclude next Wednesday at the same Atanasio Girardot, with DIM as the home team for the second leg.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.