Cacique Medina reaches second Libertadores semi-final since Internacional flop as Estudiantes sink Corinthians | OneFootball

Alexander Medina is back in the Libertadores semi-finals with Estudiantes after defeating Corinthians, reviving a career stalled at Internacional in 2022, four years after leading Vélez Sarsfield to the last four.

In Itaquera, Estudiantes smothered Fernando Diniz’s side, won 1-0, and Memphis Depay missed a last-kick penalty. According to Globo.com, the result thrust Medina back into the spotlight.

After Diego Aguirre left, Inter appointed the Uruguayan when Paulo Sousa chose Flamengo, a process led by president Alessandro Barcellos, vice Emilio Papaléo Zin and executive Paulo Bracks.

Despite winning two of the three Gre-Nais, results soured. Inter fell 2-0 to Globo-RN on 3 March 2022 in the Copa do Brasil, a defeat many supporters considered the club’s biggest embarrassment.

The side lacked structure and were knocked out of the Gauchão after a 3-0 home first leg against Grêmio, then in Serie B. A seven-hour meeting the next day kept Medina in post, while Bracks was dismissed.

His tenure ended on 15 April, a day after a 1-1 draw with Guaireña at Beira-Rio in the Sudamericana group stage.

Weeks later he took Vélez to the Libertadores semis, ousting River Plate and former club Talleres before losing to eventual champions Flamengo.

Now he has steered another Argentine club into the last four. Estudiantes, four-time winners, are in their first semi since 2009, when Alejandro Sabella’s team beat Cruzeiro 2-1 at the Mineirão with Juan Sebastián Verón the star.

This campaign’s group stage featured Flamengo, a 1-1 draw in La Plata and a 1-0 Maracanã defeat. Flamengo host Independiente del Valle holding a 2-0 first-leg lead.

Source: Globo.com

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