Vélez-Flamengo: the keys to the success of the only Argentine team still alive in the Copa Libertadores

The time has come. Head-to-head matches are said to last 180 minutes. But the first 90, this Wednesday from 21:30 at the José Amalfitani stadium in the middle Velez Y flamingofor one of the first leg semi-finals of Libertadores CupThey will be fundamental. The pressure is on the Argentine team, which will have to decide on Wednesday 7 September at the Maracana.

The differences are marked. Between Argentine and Brazilian football. Between the Professional League and Brasileirao. Football and financially. And between the two semi-finalists: one penultimate and the other escort in their local championships. It is not necessary to clarify who is fighting for the title in his country.

Of the four best in the Copa Libertadores, three are Brazilians. And Vélez will be the only Argentine team that will try to take the stop and avoid another Brazilian final like last year.

In this context, here are some keys to keep in mind.

The hierarchy

Vélez and Flamengo met for the last time in the group stage of the Libertadores 2021. And this detail is to be taken into consideration this Wednesday evening: the team Mauricio Pellegrino was managing then played very well at home, especially in the first half, but ended up losing 3-2. Twice he was at the top of the scoreboard, but the Rio de Janeiro team overturned the situation with goals from Gabigol and Giorgian de Arrascaeta. The two will be back at the José Amalfitani. In the rematch also at the Maracana, but they played very relaxed, already qualified for the round of 16. It was 0-0 and the point allowed Velez to move on to the next round.

Flamengo were champion in 2019 and finalist in 2021. In the meantime, they were eliminated from Racing in the round of 16 in 2020. They keep a good part of their base, even if they changed their coach: in 2019 the Portuguese Jorge Jesús, in 2020 the l former goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni and last year Renato Portaluppi. This year started with another Portuguese, Paulo Sousa, and Dorival Junior has been there since June. Since his arrival, the Fla have won 11 games, drew 1 and lost 3.

The Fort had it too four coaches from 2019: Gabriel Heinze, Mauricio Pellegrino, Julio Vaccari (ad interim) and Alexander Medina. In 2020 he was semifinalist in South America and in 2021 he reached the round of 16. With many changes since then in the older players, he has been strengthened with the lower boys. Since joining Cacique, also in June, he has won 5 games, drew 10 and lost 6.

In the press conference held on Monday, the Vélez coach made it clear that he did not lose hope despite the difference in hierarchies: “History has given sufficient evidence of when the team that – in theory – arrives with the least chance ends up winning a series. We know the type of rival we have to face, but also our strengths ”.

The Garayalde-Cáseres tandem

Máximo Perrone’s injury to Sarmiento, a pneumothorax, altered the starting point guard who played both games against River in the round of 16 and in the quarter-finals against Talleres. Despite Santiago Cáseres having been a piece of escort in the four games, he always came in for Garayalde, because he also has a record, and ended up playing alongside Perrone, who has always contributed more to the game. He has never been out of line in earnings than he is, but will now have more liaison responsibilities with the offensive quartet.

If in the previous four Cup games the change was Cáseres for Garayalde, it means that now Cacique Medina does not have the first option at hand. If the central axis doesn’t work, someone gets tired or gets injured, that responsibility will fall on Agustín Mulet, who played a good match with Independiente. Opposite, the duel will be with Thiago Mata and Joao Gómes.

The offensive quartet

Luca Orellano and Lucas Janson will have a double task at the ends. In addition to breaking the lines, especially the right-wing youth teams because the former Tigre is more in goal (he has seven in the tournament), they must pay extreme attention to the rise of Brazilian teams, much more Rodinei than Filipe Luis.

Lucas Pratto represents the team’s experience. At 34 and with 29 goals scored (he is already among the top 10 scorers in the history of the Libertadores), he contributes a few meters further back, almost as a game planner, much more than Walter Bou, who, despite having that function in Defense, since his arrival at Vélez has not yet managed to behave like his former team. While they take turns to be a reference in the area, it can be useful in the pursuit of the goal.

The defense against Gabigol and Giorgian

Giorgian de Arrascaeta is one of the best players in South America. Rivaldo has already said it after the matches against Corinthians. “Arrascaeta is playing very well in a position where there are few players today. Make a difference with your steps and goals. He many times he surprises his rival for the extreme quality he has ”said the historic Brazilian midfielder. Vélez knows everything because Cacique Medina has already warned on Monday: “He is a decisive player, both for assists and for scoring. He is one of the best players Flamengo has today. We know where he is moving when it comes to developing football, however there are other players to watch out for ”.

The other players are none other than Pedro, Gabigol and Everton Ribeiro. Against River and Talleres, Vélez’s defense had a good level. Jara has improved a lot, De Los Santos has calmed down, the little boy Valentín Gómez has performed and Ortega has gone up and down a thousand times. But sometimes even goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos makes childish mistakes. This can cost the team dearly.

Changes

Alexander Medina had found the team in Copa Libertadores. The starting eleven was not changed in the quarter-finals or semifinals. And the changes were almost always the same: Cáseres for Garayalde, as they said; Julián Fernández for Orellano, Abiel Osorio for Pratto or Bou and José Florentín for Janson. Diego Godín entered in the last minutes of the second game, but he will not be available. The team has always strengthened and Fernández’s contribution has been decisive twice. He now he will have to use them thinking that the other bank will be, mainly, Arturo Vidal and Everton.

Concentration

Velez has to play the perfect match. Almost. More similar to the first leg with River, after 20 minutes, or to the one that played the rematch with Talleres in Córdoba. Pressure and concentration on all lines will be key. Now, does Flamengo have any weaknesses? Like any Brazilian team, if they feel that things are not going well, they tend to get depressed, lose intensity and get confused. If Medina’s team manages to devalue their rival, it will be a good point. Moreover, and it has been seen in the encounters with the Corinthians, usually “cancherear” the games, sure of his strength. Sometimes it works against you.