Football The duels that will spark in the match between Colo Colo and River Plate in the Copa Libertadores

Colo Colo plays its most important match of the year against River Plate. The most outstanding of the last six seasons at international level. They’re doing it against a team that has more experience in these matters over the past few decades and has a much more expensive roster ($132 million versus $26 million). Despite this context, Jorge Almirón looks to the key with optimism. “We are among the eight best in America and we are prepared for what the match will be like against an opponent that will be complicated. I know what the Copa Libertadores means to us. We understand the magnitude of the rival, the situation and the dressing room is good. We had a good week and we hope to get a good result at home, with our people,” he said on Monday.

The Argentine coach has managed to make his mark on the continental competition. He has transformed the Cacique into a tough team, which knows how to come out alive when it is overwhelmed and which strikes when it can in attack. In the group stage, for example, and although they advanced with only six points out of 18 possible, no team overtook them. Against Fluminense, the most powerful opponent in the area, they lost 2-1 and 0-1. He thus leaves behind what was one of the main shortcomings of the process of Gustavo Quinteros, Almirón’s predecessor. In addition, in the round of 16, he won both matches against Junior.

For its part, River Plate is a team that has arrived with several changes in recent months. Although it was the best leader, with 16 points, the management chose to interrupt the process of Martín Demichelis. After a quick negotiation, Marcelo Gallardo returns to Núñez. And Muñeco beat Talleres de Córdoba, in the round of 16, with two victories. Even though his process, the second of the old millionaire bank steering wheel, does not take off. There, the key before the whites is visualized as a key. Napoleon implements his 4-3-3 with a squad full of known names. Franco Armani, Germán Pezzella and Marcos Acuña were part of the Argentina team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In addition, many of their names are selected in their country, such as the Colombian Miguel Borja or the Chilean Paulo Díaz. In this context, a fundamental element of the process will be to know who wins the duels by sector.

On August 20, in Barranquilla, Maximiliano Falcón becomes the hero of Colo Colo by scoring the second goal against Junior and qualifying for the quarter-finals. El Peluca caught a rebound in the area and beat goalkeeper Santiago Mele. It was emotional. But that day, the Uruguayan also made mistakes that could have changed the game if not for the incompetence of the attackers of the coffee team. Although the Uruguayan is usually impressive in defensive aspects, such as aerial duels and ground disputes, it is also true that in the short outing with the ball he makes mistakes that, against a team like River Plate, he must improve to avoid suffering.

In front of the defender will be Miguel Borja. The Colombian is the most important striker in Gallardo’s team. The strong forward arrived in Buenos Aires in 2022, but in 2024 he achieved his best numbers. With 27 goals in 35 games, he averages 0.79 goals per game. In the current edition of the Copa Libertadores, they have won six games in seven. Devastating numbers. And Falcon appears as his marker.

They are two renowned full-backs with extensive international experience. Huaso is one of the four oldest players in the Whites team. Upon his arrival in the middle of the season, Almirón immediately gave him confidence and allowed him to earn a starting spot. He is still an important offensive agent. But doubts weigh on their ability to contain rival attacks in more fierce duels. Especially after his poor performance in the FIFA meeting. Without going any further, the two goals scored by Chile against Bolivia were created by their sector. It is likely that against River Plate they will be asked to take more precautions and not leave the defensive zone abandoned However, due to their characteristics, UC-trained people usually go on the attack. The setback was difficult for him, even in his best moments.

The left back of the Blood Band team is Marcos Acuña. El Huevo, like Isla in Colo Colo, arrived at the winter market. He arrived in his country from Seville, where he stayed for four seasons. In Lionel Scaloni’s Albiceleste, this was an important stimulus. He played in both Copa Americas they won and in the World Cup he played six out of seven games. The defender was what Gallardo was looking for to improve his team’s left side. The Racing-trained player has proven to be an essentially offensive winger. Throughout his career, he has provided the not insignificant sum of 95 assists.

Playing against Colo Colo is always special for Paulo Díaz. After shining at Palestino, the defender joined Macul with the hope of continuing his sporting progression. But that ended up being the only misstep in his impeccable career at club level. Then he went to San Lorenzo and after a brief stint in Arab football, he went to Núñez, with the approval of Marcelo Gallardo, who wanted him since he saw him play at Ciclón. He has been at River for five years and is the standard-bearer of the defense. Everyone at River trusts him. This Tuesday it will be Javier Correa’s turn to score, whom he already knows, due to his stays at Racing and Estudiantes.

The striker has one goal in seven games in Chile. He appears as a mobile attacker, capable of generating play and not at all brutal when it comes to connecting with his teammates. But he lacks a dedicating performance to Pedrero. This year he has already played once against River Plate, on March 10, in the Argentine Super Cup. It was a 2-1 victory for the millionaires, but the forward scored in added time for the Pinzarrata, with a header stuck after a cross from the right.

It’s the clash of the banners. Arturo Vidal returns to the starting lineup against River. The King, without the mobility of before, but with enough technique to impose himself at international level, was fundamental in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores. Additionally, he has seven goals this year, which shows that he is still getting into the box. Alianza Lima scored a fundamental goal. “He is always important in the team, he is well and he is going to play, because he brings many important things for the team,” said Almirón. He will now watch, and vice versa, Nacho Fernandez.

The 34-year-old midfielder returned to Buenos Aires in 2023. This year he has already played 36 games. In his best moment, in the previous period of Gallardo, he established himself as the best footballer in the transandean midfield. He is a midfielder who even had a significant goal quota. Today, yes, the panorama has changed. Although he has played several matches, he has not yet established himself as a starter this current season. Although the Doll calls on experience for the international duel.

Whiteboard confrontation is essential in this type of instance. Especially in the face of dissimilar proposals. One of the most emblematic matches of the Albo coach was that of the Copa Libertadores 2017, when he eliminated River de Gallardo in the semi-final, against Lanús. On this occasion, the brown actors waited for those of the blood band and appealed to the remaining spaces in the face of a possible error. This is how it was Napoleon’s team that, from the start, settled in the rival pack. In the return match, the millionaire institution led 2-0. There, Almirón took advantage of the opportunity to go and get him and turned the key.

Not much time has passed and both have nuances regarding this duel. Now, River and Colo Colo play with a 4-3-3 system. There, the duels detailed above appear as fundamental. Muñeco’s team also hopes to take advantage of the speed and technique of its outside players. But within the Cacique’s team, they appeal to the knowledge that their coach has of the rival. “We know it’s going to be very difficult, we have to worry about the details. We think about everything; this match has to be played with gritted teeth. Almirón knows Gallardo very well,” said Esteban Pavez.