Key week for Colombian teams in the Libertadores

Atlético Nacional, Junior, América de Cali and Santa Fe do not have a very good time these days in the Conmebol Libertadores cup, since the four have had logistical difficulties to face their home games due to the difficult public order situation that Colombia is experiencing and now they are preparing a new week at the international level that will be key to their aspirations.

The good news for Verdolagas, Escarlatas and Tiburones will be that they will be able to dispute this date as locals in Colombian territory and they will not have to look for a new headquarters as happened in their last outing. Conmebol itself reported that Junior and América will play at Romelio Martínez de Barranquilla, while Nacional will play in Pereira.

On the last day Junior had to face his game at home in Guayaquil, Ecuador, while Santa Fe and Nacional did it in Asunción, Paraguay.

They are all very committed due to the results in their respective groups of Liberators. Partially, the only one who would be qualifying would be National after the first three days of this phase, however, the Verdolagas seem to be coming on a downward curve that also implied their elimination in the Colombian League 2021-I.

NATIONAL ATHLETIC

The Antioquia team will play next Wednesday, May 12 as a local at the Hernán Ramírez Villegas de Pereira stadium against Nacional de Uruguay.

After being eliminated in the Colombian League 2021-I at the hands of Equidad, the Verdolagas increased their crisis by losing at home to the leader Argentinos Juniors (9Pts) in a match played in Asunción, Paraguay. In Group F Nacional it is second with four units, followed by Universidad Católica with three and Nacional de Montevideo with 1.

Although there are three rounds left in the group stage and those of Guimaraes are second, the picture seems to have darkened, after the calendar only has one game left at home and two away. Atlético Nacional needs a victory against the Uruguayan Nacional to prevent the Católica from hitting the table and winning after reliving their last victory against the Uruguayan team.

In addition to a good result against his namesake, Nacional would like a victory for Argentinos over Chileans to clear the way to qualification. After playing with Nacional de Uruguay, the green team will have to visit Argentinos Juniors and the Catholic University. For the next game Guimaraes will not be able to count on Argentine defender Emanuel Olivera, who saw the double yellow in the last game.

CALI AMERICA

Although he will not be able to play in his native Cali, America will not have to leave the country to face his game for the third date of the group stage of Conmebol Libertadores and this Thursday, May 13, at the Romelio Martínez de Barranquilla he will receive the leader of his series , Atlético Mineiro.

The objectives of America are only in the Libertadores, as it entered a crisis after the elimination in the Colombian League at the hands of Millonarios, also suffered the departure of its coach and is under the direction of the interim Jersson González. In Group H it is a chore with just one point after nine disputed. Atlético Mineiro leads with seven units, followed by Cerro Porteño with four and Deportivo La Guaira with three.

The situation is not looking good for the Scarlets in their desire to advance to the round of 16 of the international tournament, although they have two games left at home that will be vital in their search for the goal. In addition to the game against Atlético Mineiro, América then hopes to receive La Guaira, while it will finish this phase playing away in Paraguay against Cerro.

The low level of some of his referents such as Duván Vergara has influenced the poor gait of Cali red, but also during the season he suffered important casualties due to injury such as Adrián Ramos, who in the last game against La Guaira He had to leave the field due to physical discomfort.

ATLÉTICO JUNIOR

The one that will be least affected by the change of location will be the Shark. The Barranquilleros will change stadium, but not city, they will play as in the past at Romelio Martínez looking for a key victory that will allow them to directly reach River Plate in the table. The Sharks will face the Millionaire this Wednesday, May 12.

Group D is led by Fluminense and River with 5 points, which are followed by Junior and Independiente Santa Fe with 2. After playing against those of Marcelo Gallardo, the rojibanco team must seek to qualify in two games that they will have as a visitor. He must first go to Brazil to play Fluminense and then finish the group stage against Santa Fe.

The situation is complicated for Junior by not being able to count on one of his strongest cards in terms of leadership and attack. He lost Teófilo Gutiérrez due to injury for several weeks, the experienced attacker has an inflammation in the Achilles tendon that they have only doing differentiated work.

Junior also involved in a sea of ​​criticism for his style of play, has been adjusting his forms and he already looked better, even falling with River or in League duels when he eliminated Santa Fe in the quarterfinals.

SANTA FE

The Cardinals will be the only ones among the Colombian representatives who will have to play this day as a visitor. They will go to Brazil to face Fluminense and they need a good result to dream of qualifying in Group D.

Santa Fe is last in the group with the same points as Junior, while Fluminense and River lead the series with 5 units. Apart from the duel against the Brazilians, the Bogota team still has to visit Buenos Aires and receive the Sharks.

Harold Rivera’s team is noted for its tactical order but criticized for its lack of goal definition, something that will have to improve if it wants to get the results that keep it alive in the Libertadores. In his series he is the one with the fewest goals in favor with just two annotations.

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