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

The Millionaire’s squad returns to training as Chacho plans for 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’s 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, four points ahead of the Brazilians and Carabobo, Chacho will turn to heavy rotation for the international match. In fact, it’s expected that none of the usual starters will play in that game, and that youngsters 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 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 following 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’s still early, but Coudet believes he will be able to count on Marcos Acuña for the Apertura final; because of that, 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’s not ruled out that one of them could break into the vacant spots in the starting XI that will travel 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 to be the starting ‘5’, but Fausto Vera could also drop deeper, with his place elsewhere on the pitch taken by Maxi Meza or Giuliano Galoppo. It will be a decision that shapes Coudet’s game plan.

It’s also not clear that Joaquín Freitas will be the one to replace Driussi. The youngster brings a great deal of mobility and good decision-making in attack, but he struggles with playing with his back to goal, battling with center backs, and finishing chances. The battle for that spot is only between him and Maximiliano Salas, since there are no other forwards in the squad. The former Racing player could win the spot 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 probable 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.