The Brazilian America receives the Colombian Deportes Tolima this Wednesday for the third date of the group stage of the Libertadores, in which both teams will seek their first victory.
Both teams have only 1 point, 3 less than the Ecuadorian Independiente del Valle and the Brazilian Atlético Mineiro, who tonight star in the other duel in Group D.
América comes into the match after suffering a heavy defeat in the Brazilian League last weekend against leader Santos, who thrashed 3-0.
In the continental tournament, the Belo Horizonte team lost to Independiente del Valle (0-2) and drew 1-1 against Atlético Mineiro, a result that leaves them bottom for having a worse balance of goals than their next field rival .
Aware of the importance of this Wednesday’s match, coach Vágner Mancini stressed the need to have the support of the fans.
“We have the support of the fans, that he plays as much as the team. We had a very tough game against Atlético and we have to maintain this level of the game », he stressed.
The team from the Colombian city of Ibagué, meanwhile, arrives in Brazil with some significant casualties in their squad.
Juan Fernando Caicedo did not travel with the team as coach Hernán Torres took into account the great physical wear and tear on the player, who played a leading role in the victory against Alianza Petrolera de Barrancabermeja by 0-2.
Caicedo had just been off the pitch for almost a month due to a meniscus injury in his right knee, so the coach has chosen not to force him.
Two other important figures of the team are not part of the ‘Vinotinto y Oro’ delegation either: attacking midfielder Daniel Felipe Cataño and winger Andrés Felipe Ibargüen, who are suffering from muscular discomfort.
Defender José David Moya, meanwhile, is suspended.
América and Tolima will meet on Wednesday at the Independencia stadium in Belo Horizonte at 6:00 p.m., with arbitration by Uruguayan Andrés Cunha. EFE
