Atlético Nacional made a strong start to the league season, defeating Once Caldas in Manizales.

Atlético Nacional got off to a serious start in the second half of the season with a solid 3-1 victory against Once Caldas in Manizales at the Palogrande Stadium.

The Verdolaga team had the desired debut with a win on the road and a game that showed their strengths for the upcoming season, with Alfredo Morelos starting off on fire.

In the initial part, Once Caldas was in charge of the first approach with Luis Ángel Palacio who received a cross from Dayro Moreno and the winger took the ball ahead and the action did not end as expected.

Around the 11th minute, Nacional opened the scoring with their first chance. Marino Hinestroza passed the ball to Joan Castro, and the full-back quickly slotted it in past goalkeeper James Aguirre.

Halfway through the half-hour mark, the home side nearly equalized in a move that began with a mistake by Juan José Arias, which saw the ball reach Luis "Niche" Sánchez. Seven minutes later, Nacional came close again, with Edwin Cardona firing a shot from mid-range that sailed straight into Aguirre's hands.

Around the 43rd minute, the Antioquia team almost increased their lead in a quick transition where the ball reached Hinestroza and the winger couldn't get the best grip on it and sent it over the goal.

In the second half, Nacional wasted no time, and a Matheus Uribe recovery led to the second goal. The midfielder recovered the ball and passed it to Andrés Salazar, who crossed it to Alfredo Morelos, who unleashed a left-footed shot that Aguirre couldn't stop. Around the 56th minute, Once managed to pull one back thanks to Dayro Moreno, who converted a penalty, which was awarded for a handball by Morelos after a cross from Deinner Quiñones.

Around the 62nd minute, the visitors came close again, with a play in which Salazar delivered a cross to Marino, who immediately attempted a shot that just missed the back line. Four minutes later, Cardona nearly scored Nacional's third with a free kick that just missed the home side's goal.

After this flurry of chances, Nacional finally found the third goal. Salazar looked for Cardona in the box, and Iván Rojas, in his eagerness to clear, sent it into his own net. In the 79th minute, Verdolaga missed a clear chance to score the fourth. Hinestroza crossed the ball to Juan Manuel Zapata, and the midfielder controlled it, but the goal was unexpectedly missed.

After this chance, Nacional focused on controlling the ball and was able to hold on to the lead to take the lead of the first half.