River Plate Sets the Stage for a Crucial Copa Sudamericana Encounter
As River Plate prepares for a pivotal journey to São Paulo to face Bragantino, manager Eduardo Coudet is playing the long game. With the team fighting for the top spot in Group H of the Copa Sudamericana, the current atmosphere calls for caution rather than risk. Given a grueling calendar with no room for error, the coaching staff has opted for a strategy of stability and preservation.
Caution First: Key Absences in the Squad
In a move to ensure long-term fitness, Eduardo Coudet has decided to leave two heavyweight names off the flight to Brazil. Franco Armani and Maximiliano Meza will not be part of the traveling party. While both have returned to group training at the Camp, their recovery paths require a more delicate touch:
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- Franco Armani: Dealing with chronic tendinitis in his right Achilles tendon.
- Maximiliano Meza: Recovering from a significant avulsion of the patellar tendon in his left knee.
The “Chacho” (Coudet) believes that rushing these players back could be counterproductive. However, fans can expect to see them return for the upcoming match against Atlético Tucumán, where a heavy rotation is anticipated before the team heads to Venezuela to face Carabobo.
New Faces and Rising Talents
One of the most curious additions to the list is Franco Jaroszewicz. The young goalkeeper had a whirlwind Tuesday, playing for the Reserves against Sarmiento in Junín before quickly reintegrating into the first-team squad as the third choice.
Meanwhile, the squad sees the integration of Lucas Silva, who is set to make his first professional international trip after a promising debut at the Monumental. Additionally, the recovery of stars like Juan Fernando Quintero and Fausto Vera is progressing daily, with both targeting the next Sudamericana fixture in the Caribbean.
The Tactical Sidelining of Kevin Castaño
Not everyone is finding favor under the new regime. The situation of Kevin Castaño highlights a clear decline in his standing with the technical staff. Since Coudet took over, the midfielder has seen barely 65 minutes of action across three matches. His exclusion from the trip to Brazil is a technical decision that reflects his current struggle to break into the starting XI.
Official Squad List for Bragantino
Here is the complete breakdown of the players selected for this critical international mission:
- Goalkeepers: Santiago Beltrán, Ezequiel Centurión, and Franco Jaroszewicz.
- Defenders: Fabricio Bustos, Lautaro Rivero, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Marcos Acuña, Paulo Díaz, Matías Viña, Gonzalo Montiel, and Germán Pezzella.
- Midfielders: Aníbal Moreno, Tomás Galván, Kendry Páez, Giuliano Galoppo, Santiago Lencina, Lucas Silva, and Juan Cruz Meza.
- Forwards: Ian Subiabre, Agustín Ruberto, Facundo Colidio, Joaquín Freitas, Maximiliano Salas, and Lautaro Pereyra.
Physical Recovery: Franco Armani and Maximiliano Meza.
Technical Decisions: Kevin Castaño, Tobías Ramírez, Facundo González, and Ulises Giménez.
Injured List: Sebastián Driussi, Juan Fernando Quintero, Fausto Vera, and Juan Portillo.
For more in-depth analysis of the tournament and live updates, check out the official ESPN Soccer coverage.
