Strengthened, Fluminense goes to Mendoza to try to overthrow Independiente Rivadavia

The two teams are looking for a place in the top eight of the main South American football tournament. The first leg, played last week at Maracanã, ended in a 0-0 draw, leaving the dispute completely open. This way, whoever emerges victorious this Tuesday guarantees qualification to the quarter-finals, while a new draw takes the decision to penalties.

Fluminense arrives morally on a high after beating Palmeiras 3-2, in a comeback, at Maracanã, in the Brasileirão. Under the interim command of Marcão, who took over the team after the dismissal of Luís Zubeldía, the Rio club ended an uncomfortable sequence of eight matches without winning and gained confidence for the decisive clash in Argentina. The victory over the Brasileirão leader renewed the fans' hopes for a "turn of the page" for the season.

Defender Thiago Silva, preserved in the last round of the Brasileirão, is available to the coaching staff for the decisive duel in the Libertadores. Freytes, who works in the same sector, has recovered from bone edema in his right ankle and also traveled with the group, but his presence among the starters has not been confirmed.

If the Argentine is unable to enter the field, Ignacio must fill the gap. Midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso and striker Soteldo, standouts in recent matches, should start playing.

While they count on the return of Freytes, the Rio team will not have two athletes from the offensive sector available: Savarino and Riquelme Felipe are recovering from pain in their right calf and pubis, respectively, and are out of the decisive game.

Defender Igor Rabello, with an injury to his left shoulder, and striker John Kennedy, undergoing treatment for a problem with the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, add to the list of absences.

Marcão commented on his return to the role of Fluminense coach. The professional, who had been working as a permanent assistant at the Rio club, highlighted that he is always prepared to take on the role on an interim basis, as he has done on other occasions.

"I'm an employee of the club. We know what happens, as they have happened on other occasions, these emergencies. It's important for us to be prepared. Regardless of the result, we have to deliver what the boys delivered against Palmeiras. I'll deliver what I can from the experience I've had with all the coaches who have been here", said Marcão.

Independiente Rivadavia seeks to recover after a harsh setback in the last round of the Argentine Championship. One of the football sensations in the country and still undefeated in the Libertadores, the team led by Alfredo Berti lost 2-0 to Belgrano, away from home, and wants to put the bad result behind them with a view to qualifying for the continental tournament.

The team's highlight is center forward Alex Arce, nicknamed the Paraguayan Haaland and considered one of the main names in the position in South American football. A target for Internacional in the market, he leads the Libertadores' artillery, with eight goals, and wore the colors of the Paraguayan team in the last edition of the World Cup.

TECHNICAL SHEETINDEPENDIENT RIVADAVIA

INDEPENDIENT RIVADAVIA: Nicolás Bolcato; Ezequiel Bonifacio, Ivan Villalba, Sheyko Studer and Juan Elordi; Leonard Costa, Tomas Bottari, Leonel Bucca and Matías Fernández; Maximiliano Salas and Alex Arce. Coach: Alfredo Berti.

FLUMINENSE: Fábio; Guga, Thiago Silva, Ignacio (Freytes) and Renê; Hercules, Martinelli and Goose; Canobbio, Hulk and Soteldo. Coach: Marcão (interim).

REFEREE: Andres Rojas (COL).

TIME: 7pm.

LOCATION: Malvinas Argentinas Stadium, in Mendoza, Argentina.

São Paulo has confidence in Rafael after failure and does not consider changing the goal

São Paulo keeps Rafael as starter and captain for the decisive duel against Bolívar, this Tuesday (18), in the Sul-Americana. Even after failing against Coritiba and being booed, the goalkeeper still has the full support of the technical committee