Atlético Mineiro will be the rival of River in the semi-final of the Copa Libertadores of America. The cast he directs Gabriel Milito beat 2-0 Fluminensewhich had won 1-0 in the first leg, and the home team’s performance must have set off a big warning signal for Marcelo Gallardo: the winner played a great game to leave Flu, the current champion, on the way.
Atlético Minero had been one of the best teams in the group zone. The footballers of the Belo Horizonte team quickly grasped Milito’s offensive concepts. In the initial phase, they won 5 games and only lost 2-0 against the surprising Peñarol in Montevideo.
Of course, Mineiro raised several doubts after the poor series against San Lorenzo in the round of 16: they passed without deserving it. El Ciclón played better in Argentina and Brazil and did not overcome the stage due to bad fortune and some gross mistakes.
Galo’s wandering continued in the first leg against Fluminense, in the 1-0 loss at the Maracaná. But this Wednesday Mineiro once again shone and caused fear: he overcame the team led by Luiz Menezes. Milito’s men, who missed a penalty shortly after the game began, kicked 25 times at the goal defended by Fábio.
The introduced Deyverson (instead of the injured Bernard) was the hero by scoring the double. One went with a header and the other played with a left foot on the far post. In one the center came from the left and in the other from the right.
Mineiro – who is ninth in the Brasileirao – already looks like a typical Milito team: attacks, attacks and attacks. This Wednesday they stood with a 3-4-3, with the uprights Paulinho and Bernard as wingers to assist the powerful Hulk. Do Argentines play? Yes: Rodrigo Battaglia is the libero in the 3 line and Fausto Vera is one of the central midfielders. The key player, too, is Gustavo Scarpa, a 30-year-old left-handed midfielder who broke it in Palmeiras a couple of years ago and who can move through any sector. Plus, he has a crack punch.
They did not attack Mineiro and that is a point that Gallardo will have to address ahead of the semifinals at the end of October. The first leg will be played in Brazil, between the 22nd and 24th, and the rematch in Núñez, between the 29th and 31st. The home defense did not look good the few times they worried it. Even San Lorenzo was able to expose those shortcomings. In any case, it is presumed dangerous to propose a blow-by-blow duel against those from Belo Horizonte due to the hierarchy of their attackers.
One night Atlético Mineiro returned, the one designated as the great boogeyman of the Libertadores once the group stage was over. River must sweat, then. Gallardo will also have to work to win against Milito, a studious coach with whom he has already had some spicy duels. Until now, the coaches faced each other 9 times with 5 victories for Muñeco, 3 for Mariscal and a draw.