There is no going back, Deportes Tolima was a worthy rival against a BetPlay 2022-I League champion like Atlético Nacional. At home, that ‘curse’ of not being able to reach the title reappeared. Despite winning 2-1, the overall score was not enough due to a lapidary goal over the end by Jarlan Barrera.
Daniel Cataño had a maximum penalty at his feet that failed by singing a lot the charge saved by Kevin Mier, and immediately, he came out armed against the goalkeeper and Andrés Rojas, reviewing the VAR, expelled the player from Deportes Tolima. The head weighed in that decision and after being one man down, the tone of the game changed. It went from local domain to visitor control and later, the goal over the end.
A more than sad moment that hit Deportes Tolima hard, emotionally beaten as Hernán Torres himself has maintained. However, we have to leave everything behind and think about preparing in the best way for that match against Flamengo. Luck for the Tolimense club in the round of 16 made them suffer with one of the largest clubs on the continent and current runner-up in the Copa Conmebol Libertadores.
The result of the final was not the worst, because despite the sad runner-up, it is also to think about the players who lost, and proof of this is also the wear and tear left by the entire route in the BetPlay League 2022-I that left the group affected with the loss of Anderson Plata, whose return date is not yet known, Andrés Ibargüen injured in the first half of the second leg against Atlético Nacional and Jonathan Marulanda.
Andrés Ibargüen and Jonathan Marulanda are doubtful for the first leg of the Conmebol Libertadores Cup, while Anderson Plata is confirmed absent. However, Flamengo arrives at this match even more physically affected with heavy absences. The defensive midfielder, Joao Gomes accumulates yellow cards and cannot be in the game.
Bruno Henrique has a ligament injury that will take him out of the rest of the season. The second scorer, without a doubt, a sensible loss. In addition to Gomes and Bruno Henrique, COVID-19 has hit hard, taking out goalkeepers Diego Alves and Matheus Cunha, central defenders Rodrigo Caio and Fabrício Bruno, as well as Willian Arao, Matheus Franca and Daniel Cabral.
Recovering in the middle of the Brasileirao table, Tolima must take advantage of its condition of runner-up, the loss of its rival and the little time that the strategist Dorival Junior has been in and make history against Brazilian clubs. Although the first leg is in Ibagué, they have in mind to overcome Flamengo at the Maracaná next week and be the Colombian team to beat three Brazilian teams in Brazil in a Copa Libertadores by beating América and Atlético de Mineiro in the group stage.
While Dorival Junior recently took over the reins of Flamengo, one of Deportes Tolima’s strengths is the regularity they find in their players and in the process of Hernán Torres. The Tolimense has been in the technical direction for two years and has led the club to three consecutive BetPlay League finals. The number of games he has played in recent years is huge and this could be an important factor.
Although this regularity also shows the wear and tear that has appeared in this last stretch of the tournament with several notable casualties in Deportes Tolima. Thus, at home in the Manuel Murillo Toro they must show their power, and overcome the blow of the final of the rented local directing the series of the round of 16.
Likely lineup:
Alexander Dominguez; Leider Riascos, Julián Quiñones, José Moya, Junior Hernández; Brayan Rovira, Rodrigio Ureña, Luis Miranda, Daniel Cataño, Jeison Lucumí and Michael Rangel. DT: Hernan Torres.
Time: 7:00 PM
Stadium: Manuel Murillo Toro
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela (Venezuela)
TV: ESPN y Star +
