James Rodríguez Makes Nacional Debut With Two Assists in 3-2 Win Over Inter de Bogotá

Time seemed to stand still at El Campín. Ten minutes in, the score still level at zero, and the entire stadium rose to applaud a man who hadn't even stepped onto the field yet. That was the welcome for James Rodríguez on his debut with Atlético Nacional, and the soccer chapter of the story was only just getting started.

Before kickoff there was already a scene worth remembering: kids from the Inter de Bogotá academy presented James with a number 10 jersey as a tribute to his entire career. It was a nice touch, the kind rarely seen in the middle of a local rivalry match, and it made clear the night was going to hold something special beyond the final score.

And in the end, the result was a 3-2 win for the Verdolagas over Inter de Bogotá, in a match from matchday 13 of the 2026-II BetPlay League played this Wednesday, September 16, at Nemesio Camacho El Campín.

He came on with the game tied and changed everything

James didn't start. He began on the bench and waited until the 59th minute, with the score at 1-1, to come on for Juan Manuel Rengifo. Just a minute later, in the 60th, he was already touching his first ball at midfield. It didn't take long for his influence to show: two minutes after that, in the 62nd, he started the play that would lead to Nacional's second goal.

That play was pure vintage number 23. He left Dájome in his wake, went to ground to win a ball against Dewar Victoria, kept possession, and from there threaded a pass to Morelos, who played as a pivot. The ball then reached Cabrera, who finished with a brilliant strike to make it 2-1 for the Verdolagas.

James remained the center of attention as the match went on. In the 73rd minute he took a free kick with a cross that created real danger in Inter's box, though it ended up going out for a corner. Late in the game, in the 90th minute, he had the clearest chance for a goal: Velásquez sent in a cross, James attacked the space with the instinct that defines him, but his shot was mishit and made things easy for Faríñez, who somehow scrambled the ball away for a corner. In stoppage time he tried again with a shot that sailed just over the crossbar.

The reward for his persistence came in the 99th minute. James took a corner kick and Juan Manuel Zapata rose with a diving header to seal the final 3-2, the midfielder's second assist of the night in his first match wearing the Verdolagas jersey.

A dream debut, tribute included, with two assists and several moments that already hint at why El Campín rose to its feet the moment they saw him warming up.