2024-08-19 21:31:45
This Tuesday at 9:30 p.m., San Lorenzo de Almagro will visit Atlético Mineiro in Belo Horizonte (Brazil), match corresponding to the second leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16. In the first leg at the Nuevo Gasómetro they tied 1-1. In the event of a tie at the Arena MRV, the winner of the series will be decided on penalties.
The Cyclone is not coming into this match in the best shape, since the club is convulsed by problems related to the game, but also by extra-football problems that generate a heated atmosphere every time it plays at home with whistles and insults for the management.
In football, Leandro Romagnoli’s team lost 3-2 against Boca on Sunday in the 11th round of the local tournament. The match left a bitter taste due to a new defeat and there is a reality: When San Lorenzo plays well, it doesn’t win; when it plays badly, it loses. In this way, they have accumulated six matches without a win, four in the Professional League, one in the Argentine Cup and another in the Libertadores.
Questioned for poor results, Romagnoli’s continuity will depend on the result in Brazil in the most important match of the semester. If Ciclón is eliminated, the coach could step aside, depending on what he wants for his future. Romagnoli is thinking of resigning again with the idea of decompressing in case he does not achieve a good result.
As a result of that, and just in case this happens, The board already has two names in its portfolio to replace him. The one who is in the lead is Néstor Raúl Gorositoone of the top representatives of the Boedo institution and coach that Moretti always wanted. Another one that he likes is Pablo Guede and they will make an attempt for him, knowing that he is not having a good time at Argentinos Juniors.
Instead, A victory in Belo Horizonte would mean that Romagnoli would remain in officesince he gained the support of his players. In that sense, he will have a new opportunity next Sunday when he receives Talleres de Córdoba in Bajo Flores, a match for the twelfth date of the League.
It is worth remembering that Pipi had submitted his resignation at the Nuevo Gasómetro, after the defeat against Atlético Tucumán for the tenth date of the domestic championship. But the leaders did not accept it, and managed to convince him to continue. After that defeat and leaving the field of play with the deafening rejection of the people for leaders and players, the coach arrived at the locker room with the intention of resigning and told his close associates that it was his last game. This information reached the ears of Moretti and Ortigoza, who were present at the stadium and, despite having a terrible relationship, they got together to convince Romagnoli.
During that Half-hour conclave in a hot locker roomthe former 10 did not beat around the bush and told them that he had asked for calm and tranquility and that as compensation San Lorenzo was headlines in all the newspapers this week due to the clashes between the leadersand that he was also emotionally affected by his team’s bad luck on the pitch. In addition, the coach told them that they had not brought him the reinforcements he requested in the current transfer market. But in the end he agreed to stay, and he did not abandon ship just a few days before what was to be the first leg of the round of 16 of the Cup.
As for the team to visit Mineiro, Pipi Romagnoli will change the goalkeeper due to their poor performances in recent matches and because the margin for error is minimal. In this way, Gastón Chila Gómez will replace Facundo Altamirano, responsible for the last goals conceded. Although at the last press conference, the Barça coach supported the goalkeeper who was a starter at La Bombonera. “Why are you asking me about Altamirano? He is the captain of San Lorenzo and has our support,” confirmed Romagnoli.
In addition, there will be more changes with respect to the first mata-mata: the Colombian Jhohan Romagna will return to the rear for Gonzalo Luján and Santiago Sosa He will do the same for Eric Remedi in midfield, who traveled to the neighboring country but is just recovering from a sprained fibula.
However, Malcom Braida is not in Brazil due to a muscle problem and stayed in Buenos Aires. To visit El Galo, El Ciclón will line up with Gomez; Arias, Romaña, Campi and Báez; Tripichio, Sosa and Irala; Leguizamón, Cuello and Reali.
For its part, The Brazilian team is not going through a good moment in football, In their last six appearances they have only managed to win once. That streak began with a 2-2 draw against Club Regatas, from the Second Division, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa Brasil. It was followed by a 2-1 loss to Criciúma. Then, their only victory came in the return leg against Regatas by 3-0. After that, there were a couple of draws: 0-0 against Cruzeiro and the 1-1 draw in the first leg of this series against Ciclón. In their last appearance with a team made up of some starters, they tied against Cuiabá by 1-1.
The idea of Coach Gabriel Milito is to give their best to host San Lorenzo and get a victory to advance to the quarterfinals. That is, the same team that tied a week ago at the Nuevo Gasómetro. Everson; Renzo Saravia, Rodrigo Battaglia, Junior Alonso; Gustavo Scarpa, Otavio, Fausto Vera, Guilherme Arana; Paulinho, Bernard and Deyverson, will be starters.
Both Santo and Mineiro are looking to win this trophy for the second time. The blue and red team did it in 2014 under the guidance of Edgardo Bauza, beating Nacional de Paraguay in the final with the memorable penalty from Ortigoza. While The Gaul He did it in 2013, with Ronaldinho as a great figure and winning the final against Olimpia on penalties.