Independiente del Valle opens the Copa Libertadores with a visit to the surprising América Mineiro | Soccer | sports

The historical participation of America Mineiro in the Copa Libertadores has several pending, but one of them, that of winning at home for the first time, can be solved when receive the Ecuadorian Independiente del Valle this Wednesday in Belo Horizonte.

In his debut at the main club tournament in the Americas, the rabbits reached Group D after eliminating Guaraní in the previous phases of Asuncion and Barcelona of Guayaquil.

But that one milestone was conceived far from its stadiumthe Independencia, from Belo Horizonte, where they will collide with those from the valley, who will suffer the loss of the Portuguese coach Renato Paiva, starting at 5:00 p.m. in Ecuador.

In both Paraguay and Ecuador the América Mineiro sealed its qualification on penaltiesafter having given up home advantage: 1-0 defeat with Guaraní and 0-0 draw with Barcelona.

Get the first international victory on home soilNevertheless, It doesn’t seem like an easy job. Not only because of the rival, current champion of Ecuador, but because lately the Brazilians have won few games and suffer to score.

“We have generated (scoring opportunities) and I think that is the most difficult thing in football. Now it is clear that when you create a lot, that lack of goals is evident”, said coach Marquinhos Santos.

Of the last ten matches of the Minas Gerais state tournament, the Libertadores and friendlies, América Mineiro won two, tied three and lost five.

His goalscorer in that period, Wellington Paulista, with two goals, is injured and it will be one of the two safe casualties (the other is defender Éder, due to suspension). The Ale steering wheel is between cottons.

“We have to believe that everything is going to be alrightbecause we have worked a lot”, affirmed the Argentine defender Germán Conti, who would replace Éder.

Without DT in Libertadores

Independent received a heavy blow on Monday, two days after beating Gualaceo 3-1, a result that left it third in the Ecuadorian league, six points behind leader Barcelona.

That day his coach, Renato Paiva, was notified that he will not be able to lead in the Libertadores for not meeting Conmebol requirements for the homologation of your European license coach, as explained by the club’s manager, Roberto Arroyo.

Conmebol does not enable Renato Paiva to lead Independiente del Valle in the Copa Libertadores

The director affirmed that, in order to validate the title, the Conmebol requires that coaches from other confederations have commanded for at least five years to a South American team first division or have driven one of the A in Europe.

But the 52-year-old Portuguese who won the 2021 Ecuadorian championship does not meet those demands.

“This is one of the saddest days of my professional career,” said Paiva. “I have twenty years of experience as a football coach, 16 or 17 in Benfica’s training camp and almost three years in the second division in Portugal”.

Paiva will watch the games from the standswhile Miguel Bravowhich leads to Independiente Juniors (series B), will be on the bench at the beginning of a tough group, which is completed by the champions of Colombia, Deportes Tolima, and of Brazil, the powerful Atlético Mineiro. (D)

Possible lineups:

America Mineiro:

Jailson; Patric, Iago Maidana, German Conti, Marlon; Lucas Kal, Juninho, Pedrinho, Juan Pablo Ramírez, Felipe Azevedo; Everaldo. DT: Marquinhos Santos.

Valley Independent:

Wellington Ramirez; Pedro Perlaza, Mateo Ortiz, Richard Schunke, Luis Segovia; Danny Cabezas, Lorenzo Faravelli, Fernando Gaibor, Junior Sornoza; Jonathan Bauman, Jaime Ayoví. DT: Miguel Bravo.

Referees: The Argentine Fernando Rapallini together with his compatriots Juan Bellati and Diego Bonfa on the wings.

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