Why Flamengo’s ‘early arrival’ in Quito could be key v Del Valle? | OneFootball

Flamengo moves training sessions up in the altitude of Quito, Ecuador

Flamengo beat Remo 1-0 last Sunday (06), in the 26th round of the Brasileirão. With no time off, the Rubro-Negro squad trained in Belém on Monday (07). However, on Tuesday (08), the group already held its first session in Quito, Ecuador, under the command of Leonardo Jardim.

In this way, the coaching staff has secured two full training sessions at 2,850 meters of altitude before the match against Independiente del Valle (ECU). This decision to move things up, therefore, is no coincidence: it reflects planning designed specifically for the altitude.

Few behind-the-scenes details show as much professionalism as this decision to bring the trip forward. This demanding routine, though tiring, reinforces the group’s commitment to adapting to the altitude even without any time to rest.

Why could moving things up be decisive against Del Valle?

Arriving ‘early’ to train at altitude makes all the physiological difference. The human body needs time to adapt to the low oxygen concentration in places at such elevation. Teams that arrive the day before, without time to acclimatize, usually suffer more from fatigue on the pitch.

So, two full training sessions at 2,850 meters represent a real competitive advantage. However, that advantage only exists because the coaching staff chose to move the trip forward. In any case, this type of planning rarely makes headlines, but it directly affects the result.

Teams that ignore this detail historically arrive more fatigued and tend to make worse decisions on the pitch. Even so, no amount of care can completely eliminate the natural wear imposed by a stadium at nearly 2,900 meters.

Therefore, every extra detail in preparation matters, especially in a knockout clash. In the end, teams that are physically well prepared usually suffer less from poor decisions late in games, even more so against sides already used to the altitude.

Details of the match between Flamengo and Independiente del Valle

The clash between Flamengo and Independiente del Valle takes place this Thursday (10), in the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals. Kickoff is at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, in Quito, Ecuador. Therefore, winning away from home would help a lot in the pursuit of a place in the tournament semifinal. The second leg takes place on September 17, at the Maracanã.

Thus, building a good advantage in Ecuador would make the return leg much easier. Full coverage will be provided by Coluna do Fla, with a team on site in the Ecuadorian capital. ESPN and Disney+ will broadcast the match for those who prefer to follow it on cable or via streaming.

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