What Gallardo will do with Pezzella and Paulo Díaz in the match with Vélez

The selected players of River They’re back and Marcelo Gallardo He has the entire squad under his command in the face of the complex duels that lie ahead for Núñez’s team: this Friday he will host the leader of the Professional League, Vélez, andl Martes will face Atlético Mineiro in Belo Horizonte for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinals.

Marcelo Gallardo did not add concerns again, quite the opposite. After the good recovery that the injured have been having, The footballers who return from their national teams came back healthy. Both Germán Pezzella (Argentina), Paulo Díaz (Chile) and Nicolás Fonseca (Uruguay) will have no problems putting themselves at River’s service and playing when the Muñeco wants.

Unlike what happened between Thursday and Friday of last week with the first of the two Qualifying dates, on Tuesday Gallardo practically did not have to light candles for any of those mentioned so that they would return in good condition. Pezzella did not have minutes in Argentina’s defeat of Bolivia, Paulo Díaz did not have minutes in Chile’s defeat against Colombia and the only one who was active was Fonsecabut he barely played the last ten minutes of La Celeste’s 0-0 draw with Ecuador.

The central midfielder, who had started on Friday in Lima in Uruguay’s defeat against Peru, was reprimanded against Ecuador for a strong foul on Kevin Rodríguez. In any case, he returned to River without physical problems and it is an option that Gallardo may take into account Matías Kranevitter as an alternative, either as a starter, or for the second half, in the match with Vélez.

Germán Pezzella, for his part, after having played 90 minutes on the flooded Maturín field last Thursday, with the physical wear and tear that entails, was replaced by Cuti Romero – he was suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards – this Tuesday in the defeated Bolivia and was able to regain legs. In turn, the microfracture of the left mastoid (bone under the ear) did not prevent him from playing, so he may be considered by Gallardo even to play against Vélez.

Against the Liniers team, the Muñeco will have to decide if he puts Pezzella and Paulo Díaz together in the central defense or if he saves at least one of the two for the duel with Atlético Mineiro. The Chilean did not have minutes in either of the two matches (against Brazil and Colombia) with his team, although he returned from a long trip to Barranquilla. In any case, he needs pace of play and it is possible that, if he finds it well, Gallardo will include him against Liniers.