Fluminense, Santos and São Paulo only depend on you to reach the octaves. With the classification and the guaranteed first place, Palmeiras fight to be the best team in the group stage
The group stage of the Copa Libertadores de América is coming to an end. This Tuesday (05/18), the ball will roll for the fifth round of the competition, and may already have some definitions with a round in advance. Of the seven Brazilian clubs competing in the tournament, four enter the field today: Fluminense, Palmeiras, Santos and São Paulo.
Already classified and with guaranteed first place, Palmeiras will host Defensa y Justicia (ARG), at 7:15 pm (Brasília time), at Allianz Parque. Verdão is the leader of Group A, with 12 points and 100% success rate, four wins in four games. Rivals in the decision of the Recopa Sul-Americana, the two teams will face each other for the fourth time. These are two victories for the Brazilian team against one of the Argentines, who won the title disputed in Brasília, in April.
For soon, the coach Abel Ferreira must rotate the squad, since next Thursday, the team goes back to the field to face São Paulo in the first game of the final of the Paulista Championship. Gabriel Menino returned to training without restrictions and can be used. Patrick de Paula, suspended, is out of the game. Besides him, Breno Lopes, Kuscevic, Gabriel Veron and Marcos Rocha, also do not go to the field because they are injured.
Second place in the group with five points, Defensa y Justicia only depends on its own legs to sacrament the second wave and advance to the eighth. For that, you need to win today. In the three games against Palmeiras, the team scored at least one goal in the matches. With Romero confirmed in the attack, the tendency is for the team to keep offensive football. In the medical department, Pizzini is the only embezzlement.
Still in Group A, Independiente de Valle (EQU) and Universitário (PER) complete the round, at 21:30 (Brasília time), in Lima, Peru. The Ecuadorians are in third place, with three points while the hosts occupy the last place with just one and no chance of qualifying. Del Valle and Defensa y Justicia face each other in the last round in the game that could decide the second wave of the group.
At the same time as Palmeiras and Denfesa y Justicia, the ball will also roll for Santos and The Strongest (BOL), in Bolivia. Santos occupies second place in Group C, with six points, the same score as Boca Junior, who is behind because of the goal difference. Bolivians, on the other hand, occupy the last place with three, but still with mathematical chances of classification. For that, only the victory against the Vila team will do.
Recovered from injury, Alison must return to the starting lineup in the vacancy occupied by Vinícius Baleiro. Jobson and Sandry are still in the medical department. Marinho, Raniel and Calos Sánchez are in the final stretch of recovery and that is why they do not play. Expelled in the last game, coach Fernando Diniz will not lead the team to the edge of the field.
Bolivians must again be selected with three defenders. Suspended midfielder Diego Wayar is the main absence. Raúl Castro is also out of action.
In the other game of the group, Barcelona de Guayaquil (EQU) and Boca Junior (ARG), without facing next Thursday, at La Bombonera. A draw is enough for the Ecuadorians to guarantee the classification and the first place in Group C. Third place, with the same score as Santos, Boca needs to win to stay alive in the competition.
São Paulo is another Brazilian who enters the field today, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time). The team receives Racing (ARG), in Morumbi. The two teams have eight points and compete for the leadership of Group E, with the São Paulo tricolor in advantage on account of goal balances.
With the Paulista final two days later, like Palmeiras, São Paulo should use reserves once again in Libertadores. The team may have the entry of striker Luciano, who has recovered from injury. Éder, injured, goes outside. A victory today guarantees the tricolor in the round of 16 of the Libertadores without depending on any result.
In a similar situation to São Paulo, Racing also goes through a marathon of games, still having the dispute for the final of the Cup of the Argentine League against Boca Junior. The team has no absences for today, and like the tricolor, a victory already consolidates the team for the next phase of the tournament.
Rentistas (URU) and Sporting Cristal (PER) also play for Group E, in the Peruvian capital. The Uruguayan team is in third place, with three points and has minimal chances of classification. The Peruvians, on the other hand, are bitter in the last place with just one point and are already eliminated.
The fourth Brazilian to enter the field today for the most important competition in America is Fluminense, who at Maracanã, receives Júnior Barranquilla (COL). The Rio tricolor is the leader of Group D, with eight points, while Colombians occupy the third position with three.
A victory is enough for Fluminense to guarantee the classification for octaves, for that, the coach Roger Machado must go with maximum strength, with only a few possible changes in the lineup of the starting lineup, due to the short interval between the first match of the Championship final. Carioca played last Sunday and today’s game. One of them would be the promotion of Cazares instead of Nenê. Another would be the entry of Danilo Barcelos in the vacancy of Egídio, and also the return of Luiz Henrique to the starting lineup, recovering the vacancy of Gabriel Teixeira. The right absences are: Hudson and Yuri injured, as well as John Kennedy, recovering from Covid-19.
Junior Barranquilla arrives in Rio de Janeiro with many absences. The main one is for striker Borja, suspended by the third yellow card, as well as midfielder Hinestroza. Also from the starting lineup, Venezuelan striker Gonzalez is yet another absence, this one due to injury. Téo Gutierrez and Mera are still in the medical department. Who is back is the Argentine striker Sambueza and should appear among the starters.
Tomorrow, River Plate (ARG) and Santa Fé (COL) will close the fifth round of Group D, in Argentina. River have six points and are second in the group. Santa Fé, on the other hand, appears in the last position with two, but still with mathematical chances of classification.
