Mauro Boselli, the goal card of an Estudiantes who wants to continue decided in the cup. Photo: EFE / Demian Alday Estevez
La Plata students visit Fortaleza from Brazil tonight at the Arena Castelao stadium, for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16, and in a key duel for their aspirations to continue advancing in the top continental competition. The match, which will be played from 21:30 and will be refereed by Uruguayan Andrés Matonte, will be broadcast by Fox Sports.
El Pincha comes from having an ideal group stage, in which he got the first place after adding 13 of the 18 points played. The start of Ricardo Zielinski’s men in the Professional League was not the best, but tonight they will have an unbeatable opportunity to start rebounding and, why not, to set foot in the Libertadores quarter-finals.
Fortaleza, on the other hand, reached the round of 16 suffering more than they should and keeping the second place of a group that River ended up leading with authority. Those directed by Juan Pablo Vojvoda last March in Brasileiraobut they have made it clear that they are strong on their field, and will try to exploit the locality tonight.
possible formations
Fortress: Marcelo Boeck; Brayan Ceballos, Marcelo Benevenuto and Titi; Yago Pikachu, Felipe, Ronald, Lucas Lima and Juninho Capixaba or Lucas Crispim; Moses and Silvio Romero. DT: Juan Pablo Vojvoda.
Students: Mariano Andujar; Leonardo Godoy, Agustín Rogel, Luciano Lollo, Fabián Noguera and Emmanuel Mas; Fernando Zuqui, Jorge Rodríguez and Manuel Castro; Leandro Diaz and Mauro Boselli. DT: Ricardo Zielinski.
Referee: Andres Matonte (Uruguay)
Stadium: Arena Castelao (Fortaleza)
Timetable: 21.30
TV: Fox Sport.
Source: Clarin