A friendly brought Atlético Nacional and Chapecoense together again at the Atanasio Girardot, ten years after the same stadium hosted the first leg of the 2016 Copa Sudamericana final. This time there was no title at stake, but a day marked by the memory of the plane crash that forever changed the history of both clubs and gave rise to a bond that remains to this day.
The day began with various gestures that reflected the relationship built between the clubs over the last decade. The players from both teams gathered around the center circle to listen to the anthems of Colombia and Brazil and then posed together for an official photograph.
Also present at the stadium was Hélio Neto, one of the six survivors of the crash and former player of Chapecoense. Before the match began, the Brazilian received affection from the fans and spoke about the bond between the two institutions. "I sincerely hope this brotherhood lasts for many years," Neto expressed, who also thanked the gesture that the Colombian team had after the tragedy by requesting CONMEBOL to award the Brazilian team the title of the 2016 Copa Sudamericana. Regarding the Colombian club, the former footballer added that "it is one of those great clubs that embraced Chapecoense (...) and made us greater."
