Estudiantes without two starting defenders for Libertadores semi-final first leg | OneFootball

Estudiantes (ARG) will be without defenders Tomás Palacios and Leandro González Pirez for the first leg of the Libertadores semi-final, both suspended after third bookings against Corinthians.

According to Coluna Do Fla, the club are assessing emergency reinforcements, with Marcos Rojo of Racing (ARG) and Lanús (ARG) pair José Canale and Carlos Izquierdoz on a shortlist. All three have history against Flamengo, Rojo in last year’s semi-final, Canale and Izquierdoz in the 2026 Recopa at the Maracanã.

Any move would be a gamble for the player, with the transfer window closed and no Argentine league eligibility for Estudiantes. Conmebol allows three changes to the registered list, enabling new signings to feature in the semi-final.

Palacios is a centre-back deployed at left-back and supplied the cross for the decisive goal at Neo Química Arena. He has been a standout this season and is on loan from Inter Milan (ITA).

González Pirez started on the left of central defence, so Alexander 'Cacique' Medina loses his entire left flank for the first leg in the week of 15 October. The return is in the week of 21 October at the Maracanã, with Flamengo holding second-leg advantage after the best group stage record. The other semi-final is Fluminense v Palmeiras.

Source: Coluna Do Fla

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”