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

The Millionaire squad returns to training as Chacho plans for two matches at the same time: 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, four points ahead of the Brazilians and Carabobo, Chacho will turn to heavy rotation for the international match. In fact, it is expected that none of the usual starters will feature in that game, and that youth players who have so far had very little playing time 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 has 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 plenty of youngsters, Germán Pezzella will also be there as the right center back.

It is still early, but Coudet believes he will be able to count on Marcos Acuña for the Apertura final; therefore, Matías Viña would start in the Sudamericana. He also already knows that he will not have Gonzalo Montiel, Aníbal Moreno, or 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 claim one of the open spots in the starting 11 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 start as the holding midfielder, but Fausto Vera could also drop deeper, with his place on the field taken by Maxi Meza or Giuliano Galoppo. It will be a decision that shapes Coudet’s game plan.

It is also not certain that Joaquín Freitas will be the one to replace Driussi. The youngster brings a lot of movement and good decision-making in attack, but he struggles with hold-up play, battling center backs, and finishing moves. 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 earn 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 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.