October 28, 2022, 4:12 PM
October 28, 2022, 4:12 PM
It will be a duel of opulence against ambition. Flamengo, with its millions of fans and a dream team, will face an Athletico Paranaense desirous of greatness in the third consecutive final between Brazilian teams of the Copa Libertadores.
Only the red and black of their uniforms connect to the two teams located at the antipodes of Brazilian football.
Thus dressed, his fans walk through the streets of the Ecuadorian port of Guayaquil before the duel of the Saturday (16:00 HB) at the Monumental Stadiumwith capacity for almost 60,000 spectators.
The road to here was smooth sailing for the giant from Rio de Janeiro. He easily defeated heavyweight rivals and could win his third title in the most important championship in the Americas with a roster that combines Brazilian soccer stars with seasoned veterans in Europe.
For the “Furacão”, instead, the path was tortuous and today two of his saints are entrusted to win a Copa Libertadores for the first time: multi-champion coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and Fernandinho, the voice of experience among a mostly young squad.
With the defeat in the 2021 final still in the memory (against Palmeiras in Montevideo), the “Mengao” mobilized several members of what is considered the biggest fan in the world – 40 million credited by FIFA – to the economic capital of Ecuador.
They are mostly men with clothes and tattoos who pay homage to the seven-time champion of the Brasileirao and who dream of seeing DT Dorival Junior raising the trophy together with his galactic-level disciples, the privilege of having a checkbook open to great hires:
From the arch guarded by Santos, Olympic gold medalist in 2016, to the forward duo of Gabriel Barbosa “Gabigol” and Pedro, the revelation of Brazilian football.
Not without first going through champions in Europe like David Luiz or Filipe Luis. Also by creatives Éverton Ribeiro and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, internationals with Brazil and Uruguay, respectively.
The specialized portal Transfermarkt calculates in $146 million the total value of all your players.
with which it is considered as the best squad in South America, Flamengo has walked in the 12 games so far in the tournament, with 11 wins and one draw.
After the last lost final in Uruguay “we are back and I hope that this time the ending is happy”“Gabigol” told the Conmebol Libertadores YouTube channel.
Bruno Henrique and Rodrigo Caio They will miss the duel due to injury, while Arturo Vidal trained on Thursday in Guayaquil after days of absence due to problems with his right ankle.
Paranaense will seek to do the feat with a king from the bench and a bishop on the grass, keys in the agonizing victory against Estudiantes de La Plata in the round of 16 and against Palmeiras, the current champion, in the semifinals.
Although in a smaller number than Flamengo, the faithful of DT Luiz Felipe Scolari they raise their voices with chants in Guayaquil before what could be their first Libertadores title.
Of win, Felipao would achieve his third Libertadores as a coach, becoming the second that raised it the most along with the Argentine Osvaldo Zubeldía. One step higher, with four, is Carlos Bianchi, also an Argentine.
Of the starting eleven that is expected for this Saturdayonly four players are over 25 years old: Pedro Henrique (27), Alex Santana (27), Thiago Heleno (34) and Fernandinho (37), the darling of the house who left as a teenager and came back wanting to immortalize himself.
The midfielder is the only survivor of the final of the Libertadores that Paranaense lost in 2005 against Sao Paulo.
After 17 years away, in which he came to wear the Manchester City captain’s band by decision of Pep Guardiola, returned to its origin.
“I think in recent years Athletico has shown that he learned and knowing how to play this type of competition very well,” Fernandinho told Conmebol.
From their roles, Scolari and the midfielder want to put the cherry on the cake for a two-decade project focused on the construction of sports venues and the search for talent to sell to Europe. Paranaense has only one league from Brazil and its workforce is worth USD 72.3 million.
The Brazilian press questionedto whether Felipao will launch with a 4-2-3-1 or be more conservative with a 4-3-3.
Flamingo: Santos – Rodinei, David Luiz, Léo Pereira, Filipe Luís – João Gomes, Thiago Maia – Éverton Ribeiro, Giorgian de Arrascaeta – Pedro and Gabriel Barbosa. DT: Dorival Junior.
Athletico Paranaense: Bento – Khellven, Pedro Henrique, Heleno, Abner Vinícius – Fernandinho, Hugo Moura – Agustín Canobbio, David Terans, Vitinho – Vitor Roque. DT: Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Referee: Patricio Loustau (ARG)
