Maximiliano benozzi
08/09/2021 4:49 PM
Clarín.com
sports
Soccer
River plate
Updated 08/09/2021 4:49 PM
The week that passed for River was, perhaps, one of the most forgettable of Marcelo Gallardo's cycle.
And not only because of the results, since there were no victories out of three games, but because of the weak level shown by the team -with substitutes and with starters- and the aggravating factor of elimination with Boca in the Argentine Cup. That is why the Muñeco team needs to focus again to be able to recover and face Atlético Mineiro, with whom they will play this Wednesday for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the
Copa Libertadores
.
"The team will be fine to face a Libertadores quarterfinal match. If there is something that has characterized us, it is that in the matches that we have to play something else we have been present," said Gallardo after the defeat with Godoy Cruz. Of course, the coach sent a message to the squad: "What happens is that
we cannot always depend on the important games to be present
."
Still, what Gallardo referred to on Saturday is perhaps something that he unconsciously injected into his players himself.
That chip that generates adrenaline for the Copa Libertadores matches, in which the team is very high and then there is a natural drop in the games in which there is less at stake.
This situation was a constant in his cycle.
Facing the match against Atlético Mineiro, River will seek to recover the game it had in the matches with Argentinos (the return at La Paternal), Unión and Lanús to try to find a regularity that it did not have during this year.
⚽️ # LPF TOMBA WIN!
With two goals from Martín Ojeda, Godoy Cruz 🍇 beat River 2-1 in a great game for the Professional League where he pressed, stole the ball and created many goal situations.
Look at the 2nd 👇🏼
pic.twitter.com/NMjzvaU3fv
- The Revancha Record (@RevanchaRecord) August 8, 2021
The inclusion of Bruno Zuculini and the change of system gave the team more balance and a pause that it was missing.
However,
against Boca the starting cast went back in football
.
And one of the keys is that he could not secure a fourth man in the middle of the field.
Neither Agustín Palavecino first, nor now Jorge Carrascal or José Paradela could take over that place with regularity in their performances.
So,
it is not ruled out that
, given the good performance of Julián Álvarez in Mendoza,
Gallardo will once again bet on an attacking trident by adding the youth with Braian Romero and Matías Suárez
.
Of course, everything will depend on the recovery of the Cordoba striker.
Suárez returned to differentiated training on Monday at the Ezeiza campus and would only have been discharged on Tuesday.
Therefore, it is not certain that it is a holder and perhaps it will start in the bank.
If that happens, Álvarez and Romero will set up the attack duo as against Boca and Paradela or Carrascal will play in the middle.
On the other hand,
Gonzalo Montiel is ruled out due to the muscle strain in the right hamstrings that he suffered in the classic
with Boca in La Plata.
His place will be taken by Milton Casco.
Beyond the names and systems, what is clear is that River has to recover in the face of this momentous duel for the Copa Libertadores is trust, an important company of the Doll team in this type of game.
And necessary to reappear.
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