Nahuel Banegas turned the Copa Sudamericana last-sixteen clash into a personal statement of dominance. The Tigre defender won 14 of his 19 duels across ninety minutes in Montevideo, anchoring a defence that gave Nacional no route back into a contest that finished 0-3.
His physical edge was relentless. Every time Nacional tried to press forward, Banegas was there: feet planted, timing right, bodies sent backwards. He lost just five duels all night, turning away attacking runs and winning two aerial contests when the home side went long in search of a spark that never came.
Quiet authority
The scoreline tells one story; Banegas told another. While his teammates found the net at the other end, he made sure there was no reply from the hosts. His 7.8 match rating reflected not just the numbers but the assurance he brought to a back line under pressure in hostile territory.
Nacional's attackers will have gone home frustrated. Tigre's centre-back made certain of that, duel by duel, tackle by tackle, until the final whistle confirmed a commanding away performance and a result that puts his side firmly in control of the tie.