América and Atlético Nacional to play Colombian clásico in Miami to help Colombia after earthquake

A Colombian clásico played on US soil, with all ticket proceeds going toward rebuilding Colombia after the earthquake that struck the country nearly a month ago. That's the backdrop for the matchup between América de Cali and Atlético Nacional, who will face off this Saturday, September 5, at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale starting at 6:30 p.m. (Colombia time). The match will be available through Disney+'s Premium Plan, offered exclusively in South America.

It's an unusual friendly, the kind that pops up in the middle of the calendar and throws everyone's rhythm off a bit. But behind the charitable cause there are also genuine footballing stakes, since América and Nacional are going through very different moments in the FPC.

The leader with its mind on the league

América arrives in Miami as the leader of the Colombian championship, with 20 points and fresh off a rout of Alianza FC at the Pascual Guerrero. Coach David González wasted no time downplaying the exhibition as soon as that match ended:

It's an unusual game on Saturday with travel involved. I can't say I'll go all out to beat Nacional no matter what. I made it clear at the previous press conference that our goal is to win every point possible. This is an exhibition and we'll treat it as such, but the players' well-being and what's left of the league come first.David González

With a 5 point cushion over its closest pursuer, Independiente Medellín, which still has two games in hand, González has room to rotate and rest starters without much risk. The schedule also works in his favor: his next official match isn't until Wednesday, September 9, against Pereira in the Copa, four days after the trip to Florida. Beating Nacional would also be a nice boost for his tenure as coach, especially after having already defeated them in matchday 4 of this half of the season.

Nacional, with a rematch pending and a Copa clash looming

Nacional's season is telling a different story. With Lucas González in charge since the start of this second half of the year, Verdolaga has picked up 12 points in 5 matches and sits among the league's top eight, while also still alive in the Copa BetPlay. Lucas's only loss this half came precisely against América, so Miami offers a quick chance at payback.

For the trip, the coach called up 20 players, with several regular starters on the list: Armani, Cardona, Rengifo, Morelos and Arango, among others, will be in Fort Lauderdale.

That's where the trickiest part of the schedule comes in for Nacional: on Monday, September 7, the club hosts Deportivo Cali in the round of 16 of the Copa BetPlay at the Atanasio Girardot. That leaves just one full day of rest between the Miami friendly and that Copa clash, forcing Lucas González to carefully manage how much he asks of his starters on US soil so as not to arrive compromised for the match against Azucarero.