Galo prepare for historic Copa Sul-Americana semi-final | OneFootball

Atlético and Independiente del Valle (EQU) face off this Tuesday (28th) at 9:30 PM at Arena MRV for the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana semifinal. Pushed by their fans, Galo seeks an unprecedented qualification for the grand final of the continental tournament.

After the 1-1 draw in Quito, with a saving goal by Dudu in the stoppage time of the second half, the match is completely open. Whoever wins advances. Any new draw takes the match to penalties, a scenario that was part of the team's preparation on the eve of the game, during a session at Cidade do Galo.

On the morning of this Monday (27th), the Atlético squad held their last training session before the decision at Cidade do Galo. Under the command of Jorge Sampaoli, the players participated in a tactical activity, followed by finishing drills and, finally, penalty kicks.

Since the away goals rule no longer applies, any draw at Arena MRV leads to a penalty shootout.

Important Absence

For this Tuesday's match, Sampaoli will have a problem in midfield. Midfielder Gustavo Scarpa is suspended after receiving a third yellow card in the first leg in Ecuador.

To adjust the sector, the Argentine coach might opt for Fausto Vera, freeing Igor Gomes to be another creative player alongside Bernard, or he might position one of the full-backs there, as Saravia and Natanael have already played as wing-backs under the Argentine coach.

Another option is to play with an additional forward in the team. Thus, Sampaoli could repeat the attack that played against Ceará last weekend, positioning Biel on the side, or even opting for Hulk and Rony together, alongside Dudu.

Full House and Decisive Atmosphere

The expectation is for a full house and a final atmosphere at Arena MRV. According to influencer Lucas Tanaka, about 30,000 tickets have already been sold. However, fans trying to purchase tickets online might face difficulties, as Atlético fans who can redeem tickets can do so up to 24 hours before the game. In other words, those who haven't secured their entry yet should keep an eye on the purchase site today from 9 PM.

If they advance, Galo will play their first Copa Sudamericana final and remain alive in the dream of winning another international title. The match kicks off at 9:30 PM at Arena MRV.

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