Atlético Nacional left James Rodríguez out of its squad for Thursday's 8:00 p.m. match against Deportivo Pasto at the Atanasio Girardot in Medellín, even though the game could reshape the top of Liga Betplay. Edwin Cardona was included for the match.
The omission matters because Nacional can move into a stronger position in the title race with a result on October 22, 2020. A win would put the side level with Deportivo Cali on 29 points, and a victory by two or more goals would leave it as provisional leader. For a team that had not lost at home in the tournament, the decision to leave out one of its most visible names was the first thing people noticed when the call-up came out.
Lucas González said the four players were left out to give them rest after the trip to face Cúcuta Deportivo on Tuesday in Norte de Santander. Along with James, Andrés Felipe Román, Andres Felipe Marín and Néider Parra were also omitted, while Alfredo “Búfalo” Morelos remained in field readaptation, Marlos Moreno was recovering from a hamstring muscle injury and Ian Poveda was waiting for scheduling for left ankle arthroscopy. The coach had said the group needed that pause, and this match was the one where he could use it without giving up the pressure at the top.
That makes the search around Atlético Nacional vs Pasto more than a squad check. Diego Merino had just debuted on the Pasto bench on Monday, October 19, and Carlos Márquez of Bolívar was set to referee a game that pitted a home side with five wins and one 1-1 draw against Millonarios against an opponent arriving after recent losses. Nacional's next answer would not come from the team sheet but from the table: whether rest helps it hold the race while keeping enough power on the pitch to turn a needed win into a lead.
