The two teams Coudet has in mind: one for the Copa, one for the final | OneFootball

The Millonario squad returns to training as Chacho plans two matches at once: the clash against Bragantino in the Copa Sudamericana and the Apertura final against Belgrano.

River begins its most important week of the year with two clear objectives: qualifying for the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 and winning the Apertura Tournament. That is why, as training resumes, Eduardo Coudet is working with two teams in mind to face Bragantino this Wednesday and Belgrano this Sunday.

With some breathing room as leaders of Group H, holding a four-point lead over the Brazilians and Carabobo, Chacho will rely on heavy rotation for the international match. In fact, it is expected that none of the usual starters will play in that game, and that young players who have barely seen any action so far will appear on the bench. In addition, players such as Kendry Páez and Kevin Castaño could return to the squad and even start.

The team will also have Franco Armani back after those only 45 minutes he played this year, against Vélez on February 22. El Pulpo will be the captain and his presence is guaranteed, since Santiago Beltrán must serve a one-match suspension after the red card he received in Venezuela. Although there will be many youngsters, Germán Pezzella will also be there as the first-choice center back.

It is still too early to say for sure, but Coudet believes he will have Marcos Acuña available for the Apertura final; therefore, Matías Viña would start in the Sudamericana. He also already knows that he will be without Gonzalo Montiel, Aníbal Moreno, and Sebastián Driussi, which forces him to protect his alternatives. Although the team will be entirely made up of backups, it is not ruled out that one of them could earn a spot in the starting 11 that will go to Córdoba in search of the title.

River’s possible lineup to host Bragantino in the Copa Sudamericana

Franco Armani; Ulises Giménez, Germán Pezzella, Facundo González, Matías Viña; Giuliano Galoppo, Lucas Silva or Kevin Castaño, Maximiliano Meza; Juan Fernando Quintero, Maximiliano Salas or Joaquín Freitas and Ian Subiabre.

It has not yet been decided who will come in for Moreno: youngster Silva has a chance of starting as the holding midfielder, but Fausto Vera could also drop deeper, with Maxi Meza or Giuliano Galoppo taking his place further up the field. It will be a decision that shapes Coudet’s game plan.

Nor is it certain that Joaquín Freitas will be the one to replace Driussi. The youngster brings a lot of movement and makes good decisions in attack, but he struggles when playing with his back to goal, in battles with center backs, and in finishing plays. He is competing for that spot only with Maximiliano Salas, since there are no other forwards in the squad. The former Racing player could win the place because of his experience.

With the hope that Huevo will be fit in time, the only doubts are over who will partner Facundo Colidio and what shape the midfield will take. The rest is already decided and would be the same as what was seen against Rosario Central.

River’s likely lineup against Belgrano in the Apertura Tournament final

Santiago Beltrán; Fabricio Bustos, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Lautaro Rivero, Marcos Acuña; Juan Cruz Meza, Fausto Vera, Lucas Silva or Giuliano Galoppo or Maximiliano Meza, Tomás Galván; Facundo Colidio and Joaquín Freitas or Maximiliano Salas

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