Luis Suárez greets the audience at the Nacional during his presentation. Photo: EFE / Raúl Martínez.
48 hours after the big party organized to celebrate the arrival of Luis Suárez, the Nacional will have to transform euphoria into tranquility to face the Brazilian at home Atletico Goianense in the first leg of the quarter-finals of Copa Sudamericana 2022, where the great unknown will be whether the champion will have a few minutes on the pitch.
The 35-year-old player has arrived in Montevideo Sunday morning and on Monday afternoon he had his first training session with the team led by Pablo Repetto.
Despite the Pistolero, free since his contract with Atlético de Madrid expired at the end of June, he had trained alone in Barcelona, has not added time on a pitch since 22 May, when ‘Cholo’ Simeone’s side faced Real Sociedad for the Spanish league. But then he only played the last few minutes.
In any other case, a player with so few takes would be completely out of the question for a decisive match like the one on Tuesday. But he is the greatest Uruguayan striker of all timetherefore the possibility of your income is intact.
A Nacional fan waves the team’s flag awaiting the arrival of Uruguayan footballer Luis Suárez. Photo: EFE / Raúl Martínez
And the rival knows it. Last week, when a preliminary agreement between Nacional and Suárez was confirmed, the official account of Atlético Goianiense joined the reactions on Twitter by republishing the news with the comment “Aí é foda!”, Something like “What the fuck! “.
The Gran Parque Central will be full – for the South American’s first quarter-final game, an instance to which the Nacional arrives revolutionized.
In addition to the whirlwind of emotions that brought with it the incorporation of Suárez, who started his career in the club 18 years ago, the Bag faces the match with the wind in your sails which implies having been crowned champion of the Intermediate Tournament last Wednesday.
But, one of lime, one of sand. The tricolors did not start the closing of the tournament in the best way, given that on the first date, last Saturday, they fell 2-1 against Deportivo Maldonado.
If the Pistolero does not enter against Goianiense, the debut would be postponed to next Friday when the Nacional will receive Rentistas for the second date of the local championship.
Luis Suarez with his family, at the Gran Parque Central stadium in Montevideo, who promises a full house against Goianense. Photo: AP Photo / Matilde Campodonico.
Meanwhile, from Jorginho’s team, which managed to bring the Dragon to the quarter-finals for the first time in its historywatch carefully what happens with the former Barcelona player.
“I hope he doesn’t play the first game,” team captain Marlon Freitas told Sportv. “We hope that he is out of rhythm and that the athletic trainer will prepare him in a few days. It is not possible for him to play like this”, he added jokingly, even though he later clarified: “Seriously, it will be a great opportunity. To face him».
Despite a hard 4-1 defeat against Flamengo by Brasileirao last Saturday, Goianiense surprised the South American in the round of 16 eliminating Olimpia from Paraguay in a 2-0 comeback against in series thanks to an overwhelming attitude on the pitch.
The long-awaited match at the Gran Parque Central stadium in Montevideo will begin at 7.15pm, broadcast by ESPN, and will be refereed by Paraguayan Eber Aquino. The rematch will take place on Tuesday 9 in the Brazilian city of Goiania.
Probable formations:
National: Sergio Rochet – Leandro Lozano, Leonardo Coelho, Nicolás Marichal, Camilo Cándido – Felipe Carballo, Diego Rodríguez, Diego Zabala, Álex Castro – Emmanuel Gigliotti and Franco Fagúndez. DT: Pablo Repetto.
Atletico Goianense: Ronaldo – Hayner, Edson, Ramon, Jefferson da Silva – Airton Santos Sousa, Marlon Freitas, Shaylon, Gabriel Baralhas, Wellington Rato – Diego Churin. DT: Jorgenho.
Source: Clarin
