Gallery: Atletico Nacional gets hero's welcome upon arriving in Chapeco

United by an air disaster, Chapecoense and Atletico Nacional have formed a bond rarely seen in football. The two clubs were set to meet in the final of last year's Copa Sudamericana, but most of the Verdao's squad was killed when a plane crashed into the mountains near Medellin, Colombia, and the two legs were never played.

On Wednesday, in what promises to be an emotional game, Chapecoense and Nacional will finally take the pitch together at Arena Conda in Chapeco, Brazil. The match will mark the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana, which pits the reigning champion of the Copa Libertadores against the reigning champion of the Copa Sudamericana.

Nacional won last year's Copa Libertadores, while Chapecoense won the Copa Sudamericana after El Verde requested the Brazilian club be crowned and won the FIFA Fair Play Award for its exemplary behaviour.

The gesture of solidarity clearly wasn't forgotten in Chapeco, as Nacional was given a hero's welcome upon arriving at the Brazilian city's airport on Tuesday.