Galo visits River Plate, while Rubro-negro faces Olímpia
Today, it is time for two Brazilians to debut in the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores da América 2021. Atlético-MG is in Argentina, where later, at 9:30 pm (Brasilia time), they will face River Plate, at Monumental. Flamengo, on the other hand, enters the field earlier, at 7:15 pm (Brasilia time), to face Olímpia, at the Manuel Ferreira stadium, in Paraguay. The game will be attended by 2,000 people, who will be able to enter the stadium if the test for Covid-19 is negative.
Still without defender Rodrigo Caio, the tendency is that the team that lost to Internacional, on Sunday, in the Brazilian Championship, will be the same team that will face Olímpia. Coach Renato Gaúcho will also not have Pedro as an option on the bench, as the forward had a sprained ankle and did not travel with the delegation.
On the side of Olímpia, the team will not have Alejando Silva and Isidro Pitta. Defenders Luis Cárceres and Antolín Alcaraz are doubtful. Like Flamengo, the Paraguayans also lost the last match they played for the local championship. The defeat was against Guarani by 3-1.
Equilíbrio marks the confrontation between Flamengo and Olímpia. The teams have already faced each other 14 times in official competitions, six of which for the Libertadores. In total, the rubro-negro has five wins, five draws and four defeats. Flamengo’s only victories in Paraguay were in the 1997 Super Cup and the 2001 Mercosur, when the team ended up being champion.
Later, the ball will roll to River Plate and Atlético-MG. For the duel in Argentina, coach Cuca will have important reinforcements, such as Olympic champion Guilherme Arana. The left-back joined the Alvinegro delegation in Porto Alegre and becomes an option. Midfielder Matías Zaracho, recovered from a muscle injury, is another who returns to the team. Keno forward, on the other hand, continues to be embezzled, as he continues to recover muscle.
The team led by coach Marcelo Gallardo has important casualties. The coach will not be able to count on defender Pinola, who had a broken arm, and right-back Montiel, with a muscle injury. This one, in fact, is in the sights of Sevilla, from Spain, and can earn around 10 million Euros to the Millionarios. Already Matías Suárez, released by the medical department, is once again an option in the attack.
