Fluminense head to Bolivia on Wednesday with altitude ace up sleeve

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·29 April 2026

Fluminense head to Bolivia on Wednesday with altitude ace up sleeve

Fluminense boards a flight on Wednesday afternoon bound for Bolivia for one of the toughest challenges of the Libertadores group stage. This Thursday, at 7 p.m. (Brasília time), the Tricolor faces Bolívar in La Paz, at around 3,600 meters above sea level, seeking its first win in the competition.

Coach Luis Zubeldía knows well the challenges of playing under these conditions, from when he managed LDU of Ecuador and worked in Quito, a city located about 2,800 meters above sea level.

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I haven’t had the opportunity to coach teams at 3,600 meters, but I have worked in places like LDU, at 2,800. There are always some tips, like controlling the ball, not running more than necessary, and taking chances with medium-range shots. These are ways to minimize the effects, but you always feel the altitude. The secret is to live with it,” he said.

One of Fluminense’s strengths is relying on the so-called “physiological memory” of players used to playing at altitude.

I’ve already experienced matches at altitude and there really is physiological memory. I heard that from a professor who coached Boca Juniors. He talked about players accustomed to altitude who, even while playing far away, keep that adaptation. An Ecuadorian playing in Europe who returns to Quito, for example, still has that memory. He’ll feel it, of course, but he can handle the situation better,” Zubeldía explained.

In this context, center back Freytes emerges as an important piece. A regular starter for the team, he already played under similar conditions when he represented Alianza Lima in 2024 and knows well the difficulties of playing in high-altitude locations.

I played there many times; it’s not easy. The ball moves differently, the pitch is different. We know that, but we have to go for the win anywhere. We represent a big club, with history, and we need to honor that,” the defender said.

Fluminense has just one point after two rounds, with a draw against Deportivo La Guaira in Venezuela and a loss to Independiente Rivadavia at the Maracanã, a result that leaves the team in third place in Group C.

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