In very different situations in the competition, Atlético-MG, Fluminense and São Paulo agitate the night of this Tuesday.
Fluminense will play the game of life or death soon, at 19h15 (Brasília time) against River Plate (ARG) in Argentina. The tricolor is second in Group D with six points, while the Argentines lead with nine. The tricolor needs to win to continue in the competition, and if that happens, it advances to eighths in the first place of the group. If you draw or lose in Buenos Aires, you will only be able to qualify in second and still have to root for a stumbling block by Junior Barranquilla (COL) who has six points and faces the already eliminated Santa Fé (COL), in a game that takes place at the same time .
For the decisive duel, coach Roger Machado must make some changes in the team. On the sides, Samuel Xavier and Egídio should take the vacancies of Calegari and Danilo Barcelos. In the attack, Caio Paulista and Gabriel Teixeira can appear in the places of Kayky and Luiz Henrique, who will make the trio offensive with Fred. Injured Hudson and John Kennedy, still recovering from Covid-19, are out of the game
After the epic victory over Santa Fé, River Plate arrives packed for the game against the tricolor. With the recovery of those infected by Covid-19, coach Marcelo Gallardo should have the return of a good part of the players, including Enzo Pérez, who was recovering from injury and played in the goal in the match against Santa Fé. Despite the recovery of some athletes, the list of absences is still considerable: full-backs Alex Vigo, Angileri, and Montiel, midfielders Ponzio, Paradela, and strikers Beltrán and Londoño, are out.
For Group E, São Paulo will face Sporting Cristal (PER), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), in Morumbi. In the runner-up with eight points, the São Paulo tricolor already has a place in the round of 16 guaranteed. If they want to take the lead, the team needs to beat the Peruvians and hope for a stumbling block from Racing (ARG) in front of Rentistas (URU). The Argentines lead the group with 11 points, while the Uruguayans have only three.
Packed by the São Paulo title last weekend, which made the team leave the line of a nine-year fast without title, São Paulo has two major absences for the match. Daniel Alves and Benítez. The side had a thigh strain and the midfielder is recovering from a knee trauma.
Without absences, the Peruvian team goes to the game already eliminated, but fighting to guarantee the third position, which gives them the right to dispute the South American.
The ball also rolls for Group H. Already classified and with the guaranteed first place, Atlético-MG fights to be the best team in the group stage of the Libertadores, and for that it is enough to beat the lantern La Guaira (VEN). With 13 points, the team faces the Venezuelans in Mineirão, at 21:30 (Brasília time).
Like São Paulo, Atlético-MG also comes from a hangover after the title, since they were Minas Gerais champions last weekend. But as the team only depends on you to achieve the best campaign of the group stage of the competition, coach Cuca goes with maximum strength. If this goal is achieved, the bantamweight has the advantage of playing the return game always at home, since the final will be at the Centenario Stadium, in Montevideo (Uruguay). Rafael, Calebe and Bueno are the absences of the team.
Already eliminated in the group stage of the Libertadores and lantern of group H, La Guaira is still fighting for the third place that gives place in the Copa Sudamericana. With three points, he needs to draw at least in Mineirão and hope that América de Cali will lose to Cerro Porteño. Coach Daniel Farías should keep the starting lineup, with a line of five defenders.
