Grêmio faces Estudiantes, in La Plata, Argentina, this Tuesday (22), at 7pm (Brasília time), in the third round of the Copa Libertadores group stage, under a lot of pressure. As if playing away from home against a strong Argentine team wasn’t enough, Tricolor can’t return to Porto Alegre without scoring.
This is because the team from Rio Grande do Sul is in last place in group C with zero points and needs to win the match to guarantee a better chance of qualifying for the next phase.
Ahead of Grêmio are Huachipato and Estudiantes, in first and second place, with four points, and The Strongest in third, with three points. Thus, in addition to needing to win the next games, Tricolor also needs to dry out its opponents and win direct confrontations, like this Tuesday (23).
Classification Mathematics
However, not everything is scorched earth for Tricolor. In the last two editions of the competition in America, in 2022 and 2023, the second-placed team with the lowest points among the groups advanced to the knockout stage with seven and eight points, respectively.
In 2023, River Plate, from Argentina, and Deportivo Pereira, from Colombia, reached the quarterfinals with seven points. In 2022, Emelec, from Ecuador, Vélez Sarsfield, from Argentina, and Cerro Porteño, from Paraguay, advanced to the knockout stage with eight points.
HistoryIn addition to the points probabilities, which depending on your point of view, is positive for Tricolor. Grêmio also has its history in its favor. Even though Estudiantes has the mystique of La Plata at home weighing heavily on them, the Gauchos have a better record in the match.
On the field
On the Grêmio side, the team continues to be missing Diego Costa, who feels muscle pain as a result of the injury suffered in the debut of the Brazilian Championship. Thus, striker JP Galvão must continue on the field.
On the other hand, midfielder Pepê has recovered from injury and reinforces the team. The player must be a starter in the trio of midfielders that coach Renato Portaluppi will implement on the field with Villasanti and Dodi.
At left-back, Fábio, who is right-back, should be improvised in the sector. With the sale of Cuiabano to Botafogo, and with Reinaldo in the medical department, Grêmio only has young Wesley and Zé Guilherme as original athletes for the position.
The hosts, in turn, enjoy a more relaxed position in the Libertadores league table. Estudiantes is second in group C, with four points. The Argentine team is also in a good phase, with a streak of six unbeaten games.
Estudiantes x Grêmio
Students: Matías Mansilla; Eros Mancuso, Federico Fernández, Zaid Romero and Eric Meza; Santiago Ascacíbar and Enzo Pérez; José Sosa, Thiago Palacios and Mauro Méndez; Guido Carrillo. Coach: Eduardo Domínguez.
Grêmio: Marchesín, João Pedro, Geromel, Kannemann and Fábio; Villasanti, Dodi, Pepê and Cristaldo; Soteldo and João Pedro Galvão. Coach: Renato Portaluppi.
- Reason: Game in the 3rd round of the Copa Libertadores group stage
- Location: Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium, in La Plata – ARG
- Date and time: April 23, 2024, at 7pm (Brasília time)
- Referee: Gustavo Tejera (URU)
- Video Referee: David Rodriguez (COL)
- Streaming: ESPN and Star+
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This content was originally created in Itatiaia.
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