America of Cali finished his preparation to face the first great challenge of the season, the first leg of the first phase of the Copa Sudamericana against Deportivo Independiente Medellín at 7:30 p.m. at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium.
The American team, after Saturday’s victory in the classic against Cali in Palmaseca, resumed training on Sunday for the physical recovery of its players, after the effort of competing more than full time with two fewer players due to expulsion and the soft which was the field of play.
This Monday and Tuesday the group did the tactical work and the corresponding game simulation with all the players that were available, before traveling to the city of Medellin. Before the trip, Juan Carlos Osorio analyzed the debut for Sudamericana.
“The main thing is to have them all in very good condition, these two games have been preparing for a long time, we have closely followed the very good campaign that Medellín has had, they have a great strategist like Julio Comesaña, whom we deeply respect . They have great virtues with the stopped ball, aerial football with the central defenders, Vladimir’s inventiveness, the speed of the wing midfielders and two very combative midfielders who are capable of reaching the opposite area”.
He also spoke about how the game can be presented: “I think we are going to face a great team, in a key that will surely be very important for both clubs, and to be able to meet players we have known for a long time, ‘cracks’ Colombians. I think that for the good of Colombian soccer, hopefully they will be two very good games and whoever does better will pass”.
Then the captain Adrián Ramos, referred to the confidence that the group has obtained to face this key: “winning always brings confidence, I think that in the two games the team has competed in a very good way and has played good games that has allowed to get these two victories. We hope to continue like this, we have a very good mood and now we have to think about what Medellín is going to be, we know that it will not be easy, because of what they are going through, a very good moment and hopefully the team will have a good presentation”.
Previous data
América de Cali and Independiente Medellín met four times in Conmebol competitions. All those games were in Libertadores. Each team won one in 2005 and drew the two meetings between them in 2009.
Independiente Medellín never debuted with victory in a South American edition (1 draw and 3 losses). The only time they did not lose on their debut was against Universidad Católica de Ecuador in 2016 (1-1 at home).
América de Cali faced Colombian teams in two of the three previous times they played the first phase of the South American. In 2002 the team was eliminated by Atlético Nacional and in 2008 the team advanced to the second phase after eliminating Deportivo Cali.
Only two players from the current Independiente Medellín squad previously played for the Sudamericana club: Andrés Ricaurte (2 PJ) and Yulián Gómez (1 PJ).
likely alignment
Diego Novoa (Joel Graterol); Elvis Mosquera, John Garcia, Jorge Segura, Yaliston Martinez; Juan Portilla, Larry Angulo, Carlos Sierra, Iago Falque; Alejandro Quintana and Adrian Ramos.
Stadium: Athanasius Girardot.
Hour: 7:30 p.m.
T.V.: Directv Sports.
Arbitration list
Central: Flavio De Souza (Brazil).
Assistant 1: Neuza Back (Brazil).
Wizard 2: Kleber Gil (Brazil).
Fourth referee: Rodolpho Toski (Brazil)
Referee Advisor: Abraham Gonzalez (Colombia).
video advisor: Ricardo Casas (Argentina).
Juan Andres Arias Arias
Correspondent Futbolred Cali
On Twitter: @AriasJuan_15
