Racing target shock win over Flamengo, chase first final in 58 years | OneFootball

From 9:30 PM at the Cilindro de Avellaneda, the "Academy" will attempt to overturn the 1-0 defeat suffered at the Maracanã and secure a spot in the grand final of the continental tournament. Flamengo, shaken after losing in the Brasileirao and without their star Pedro, will seek to maintain the advantage and reach their fourth final in seven years.

The Cilindro de Avellaneda will witness this Wednesday night a true football battle. Racing will host Flamengo in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores semi-final, with the obligation to overcome the 1-0 deficit from the first leg to dream of the grand final of the tournament.

The team led by Gustavo Costas comes to the match with a single mission: to turn the series around and write a historic page. In Brazil, the academic team was very close to achieving a draw, but a goal in the final minutes left them empty-handed. The standout player that night was Facundo Cambeses, who kept the team in the game with several key saves.

However, not all news was good for those from Avellaneda. Days before the match, it was confirmed that Santiago Sosa underwent surgery for a fracture in the right upper maxillary sinus, caused by an accidental blow from Marcos Rojo in the first leg. Thus, Racing will not be able to count on one of its most important midfield pieces.

This Wednesday's match will not be just any game. The Academy is facing the most important match of its history in the 21st century and seeks to return to a Copa Libertadores final after 58 years, when in 1967 they conquered the continent. Before the match, an audio of Gustavo Costas rallying the fans went viral: "If we are together, we can achieve it. Let's go all out, the Academy damn it".

On the other side, Flamengo arrives shaken. The Carioca team, which had been the leader of the Brasileirao, lost on Saturday to Fortaleza (1-0) and ceded the lead to Palmeiras. It was their eighth defeat of the season, a fact that gives Racing hope ahead of the decisive match.

Despite the setback, the team led by Tite maintains a defensive wall in the Cup: only five goals conceded throughout the tournament. However, they will not be able to count on one of their main attacking figures: Pedro, who suffered a forearm fracture and is ruled out for the rematch.

The winner of the match between Racing and Flamengo will qualify for the grand final of America, currently scheduled in Lima, Peru. Their opponent will come from the clash between Palmeiras and Liga de Quito, which will be decided this Thursday, with the Ecuadorians starting with a three-goal advantage.

The Academy relies on the support of its fans and the mystique of its stadium to attempt a feat that will return them to the elite of the continent. Because, as their coach said, "if they are all together, they can achieve it".

Racing: Facundo Cambeses; Marco Di Césare or Nazareno Colombo, Bruno Zuculini or Colombo, Marcos Rojo; Gastón Martirena or Facundo Mura, Juan Ignacio Nardoni or Zuculini, Agustín Almendra, Gabriel Rojas; Santiago Solari, Adrián Martínez, and Tomás Conechny. Coach: Gustavo Costas.

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