Coudet set to have two key players back | OneFootball

The Colombian could be included in the squad for the match against Atlético Tucumán, while the former Argentinos player would be targeting next week’s clash with Carabobo. They could be joined by Maxi Meza and Armani, who are also just one step away from returning after long absences.

As River prepare for the trip to Brazil to face Bragantino on Matchday 3 of Copa Sudamericana Group H, Eduardo Coudet is closely monitoring the recovery of his injured players. On that list, there are two footballers who have shortened the timeline for their return and could reappear in the coming matches. They are Fausto Vera and Juan Fernando Quintero.

Both injured on that lackluster night against Carabobo, they were absent from the Superclásico against Boca and this Thursday will mark two weeks out of action. And although the timing is tight, they have responded well to the workload in recent training sessions, and it is not ruled out that they could return to the squad this weekend or for the rematch against the Venezuelan side.

Always coming off the bench, Juanfer was in a reconditioning process after his previous muscle injury. That night was his first start under Coudet, and he had to leave the pitch early in the second half after suffering a Grade 1 tear in his left psoas. Since it was a minor injury, his return could come before the three-week mark, so it would not be far-fetched for him to be available for this Sunday’s match against Atlético Tucumán.

In Vera’s case, the news is very good. The Grade 2 sprain to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee required at least 10 days of rest, but it depended entirely on how he progressed. Fortunately, the midfielder looked in very good shape in training this week and, without any intention of rushing him, Chacho could have him available again for the rematch against Carabobo in Venezuela on Thursday, May 7.

These imminent returns could be joined by two more in the coming days: Maximiliano Meza and Franco Armani. The midfielder has not played since the Superclásico against Boca in November 2025, after which he had to undergo surgery on his patellar tendon. After a long rehabilitation process, he took part in the latest training sessions and it is only a matter of days before Coudet can call on him for the first time.

El Pulpo has been dealing with physical problems since preseason: first he suffered a tear in his left calf and then inflammation in the Achilles tendon of the same leg, complications that led to fibrosis requiring special treatment. In the middle of this process, he tried to come back ahead of schedule and was only able to play 45 minutes against Vélez, in the match that ended with Marcelo Gallardo’s resignation. At 39, he is close to returning, but for the first time in his River history (he arrived in 2018), his place is not guaranteed.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.