Madelón’s plan to take on Gallardo’s River | OneFootball

Leonardo Madelón did not avoid the topic in the press conference following the 1-1 draw against Huracán. When asked about how he envisions the strategy to face River, this Thursday at 21:15 in Mendoza for the Copa Argentina round of 16, the Unión coach spoke of “the tactical trap”, a concept that hinted at the possibility of introducing changes in the lineup.

Madelón, with an eye on the opponent

“River has a fantastic squad, but we also have good players. It's about doing our thing and finding the best strategy to try to gain an advantage in any way we can. These are the matches we like. It reminds us of what happened eight years ago. We arrive well and then this is football. Hopefully, we can mark a new beginning in the Copa Argentina,” expressed Madelón.

The coach, jokingly stating that the idea was “to kidnap Colidio,” hinted that beyond repeating the eleven that drew with Globo, there might be an adjustment based on the opponent.

This move would involve strengthening the defensive sector with the inclusion of Claudio Corvalán, whom he praised after the last match, highlighting that he was “recovered” from a dip in form.

The inclusion of the experienced defender on the left flank would push Mateo Del Blanco into the midfield, freeing up Franco Fragapane more for creation. Consequently, one of the forwards — Marcelo Estigarribia or Cristian Tarragona — might give up their spot, betting on a more balanced scheme with greater solidity in defense.

In the match against Huracán, Del Blanco struggled significantly with Juan Bisanz, while Fragapane’s contribution in defense was very poor. Thus, it would be one of the areas Madelón aims to solidify ahead of the match against River.

It is not very common for Madelón to set up his team with a line of five defenders, but in this “tactical trap,” it would not be unreasonable for him to do so, or to reinforce the midfield, leaving a single forward and attacking from the flanks with Fragapane and Julián Palacios.

The importance of the Copa Argentina for Madelón

Madelón also emphasized the importance of the tournament: “We are moving out of the lower zone, but the Copa Argentina is extremely important. It gives you nice things. I always defend it. It's very important and that's why we always want to be in it.”

History adds a special flavor to this encounter: in 2016, in Mar del Plata, River eliminated Unión in the quarterfinals with a convincing 3-0. This time, in Mendoza, two old acquaintances will meet again on the benches: Leonardo Madelón and Marcelo Gallardo, in a new tactical duel that promises to be thrilling.

Unión travels with hope, aware that the challenge is immense, but confident that the “tactical trap” Madelón is preparing can tip the balance in a cup night that invites dreaming.

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