Low efficiency, but proactive at home: Estudiantes decoded | OneFootball

Flamengo and Estudiantes (ARG) face off this Wednesday (29)

By: Mônica Alves and Pedro Paulo Catonho

Flamengo takes on Estudiantes (ARG) at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) this Wednesday (29), in the third round of the Libertadores group stage, at Estádio Uno. In an exclusive interview with Coluna do Fla, journalist Mateo González, from the La Plata-based portal 0221, detailed the scenario that the Rubro-Negro will face in Argentina.

González analyzed several aspects of Alexander ‘Cacique’ Medina’s team, covering the tactical setup and how Argentinians view the current Flamengo squad. The main warning sign for the rubro-negro team, however, lies in the fact that Estudiantes is a proactive side but struggles with low attacking efficiency. About this imbalance between volume of play and finishing, Mateo was direct:

The journalist also highlighted that the respect for Flamengo in La Plata is immense, with the club being treated as the main favorite for the continental title. Within that prestige, Pedro and Arrascaeta remain the most respected figures, while Lucas Paquetá is seen as the big surprise in Flamengo’s transfer market. Mateo stressed that Estudiantes should abandon the passive approach from previous matches to try to control possession and press the Brazilian side from the outset.

SEE OTHER ANSWERS FROM MATEO GONZÁLEZ:

WHAT ARE ESTUDIANTES’ STRENGTHS?

“Estudiantes came in with a solid structure, but the coaching change at the start of the year meant they needed to rebuild the team. Alexandre Medina looks for teams that press high and create space down the flanks with one of the full-backs. It is a team that tries to be proactive, especially at home, controlling possession.”

WHAT IS ESTUDIANTES’ FAVORITE SYSTEM OF PLAY?

“Since the coach arrived, the most used formation has been 4-2-3-1, but they can easily switch to 4-3-3 depending on the opponent.”

WHO IS ESTUDIANTES’ BEST PLAYER?

“Today, Estudiantes’ most decisive player is Tiago Palacios (number 10), and behind him, Facundo Farías (number 11) has been developing significantly.”

COACH CACIQUE MEDINA DIDN’T HAVE MUCH SUCCESS IN BRAZIL. DO ESTUDIANTES FANS LIKE HIM?

“His arrival at Estudiantes was met with doubts and considerable rejection. As the matches went by and they watched Estudiantes’ performances, he gradually began to win over the fans because of the way he lives football.”

WHAT WILL THE REAL ESTUDIANTES BE LIKE AGAINST FLAMENGO?

“After the win against Cusco, my impression is that, at times, the opponent’s weaknesses and the early goal they conceded made Estudiantes settle in. I imagine a team more like the one that played against Talleres: focused, more solid defensively, and aggressive in attack. It may resemble the match against Flamengo in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Copa Libertadores.”

WHICH PLAYER FROM THE BRAZILIAN TEAM IS MOST FEARED OR RESPECTED?

“Everyone (laughs). Lucas Paquetá is the surprise, considering his recent experience in Europe. However, based on the previous Copa Libertadores match, Pedro is a very respected player, as is De Arrascaeta.”

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT FLAMENGO THERE IN LA PLATA?

“It is a very respected team in the country in general. Overall, it is considered the main candidate to win the Libertadores title. It is known as a team with a lot of tradition, and its prestige on the continent has grown considerably because of its participation in recent tournaments. What stands out the most is its financial strength and the quality of the players it has in every position.”

HOW WAS FLAMENGO’S 4-0 ROUT OF ATLÉTICO-MG RECEIVED IN LA PLATA?

“The win did not scare the fans, but it did put them on alert for what they might see on Wednesday in La Plata. At Estudiantes, the Copa Libertadores is experienced in a special way, and the fans emphasized this when comparing the rout over Atlético Mineiro with what they could witness on Wednesday at UNO.”

IS THE FINANCIAL ISSUE KILLING THE MAGIC OF THE LIBERTADORES?

“The economic aspect is key to understanding how the most recent Copa Libertadores tournaments have been contested. Today, in Argentina, it is not profitable to be a competitive team. Estudiantes won 5 titles in 3 years and earned just over 1 million dollars in Argentine football. For Argentine teams, winning remains the absolute priority, knowing that from the round of 16 onward, Brazilian teams have the financial advantage to invest in the transfer market.”

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