River Plate lost 3-0 to Atlético Mineiro in Brazil and was eliminated from the Copa Libertadores

The most important actions of the duel in Brazil

River Plate woke up with a hard blow from the dream of winning the Liberators cup: was run over by Atletico Mineiro, which was imposed by 3 a 0 in Belo Horizonte (4-0 on aggregate). Matías Zaracho (twice) and Hulk converted for O Galo, who took advantage of the imbalance shown by the Band in its eagerness to reverse the 0-1 of the first leg. Thus, the semifinals of the highest continental competition were left without Argentine representatives.

With a 5-3-2 scheme (Libero Maidana and Liaison Álvarez), River bet on surprising and widening when it came to pressure. But at the same time he left spaces in the setback against an adversary who was tedious at the start and disoriented with mobility, especially from the unchecking of Zaracho and Vargas. A) Yes, the homeowner came clear three times in the first 10 minutes.

At 4 ′, the Chilean headed face to face with Armani, who won the duel, well planted. Seconds later, Zaracho threw a cross into the heart of the area, the goalkeeper went wrong and the aforementioned Vargas headed wide almost unopposed. At 7, the Argentine midfielder again tested the goalkeeper’s resistance, who once again responded expertly.

The Millionaire could only take danger with an Angileri center that Suárez headed with difficulty, or with a loan from the former Belgrano to Romero, who failed to finish off squarely. until at 19 he was able to stitch an action with his stamp, with patience. Casco unloaded on Álvarez, who feigned a cross, but touched for Suárez, on the edge of the area. The striker took a powerful shot, which Éverson rejected with a rebound, somewhat surprised.

But just when the visit seemed to make a foothold in Belo Horizonte, at 22 ‘, the blow from O Galo arrived. Hulk opened to give Zaracho the central lifeline and hit him with a precise ball. And the Argentine defined with an excellent scissors, to leave the series 2-0 for the Brazilians.

Almost immediately, those led by Marcelo Gallardo had the opportunity to get back into the game. Álvarez was left alone against Éverson, but the goalkeeper once again showed that he is one of the best in the Cup. El Muñeco did not want him to run the timer to take risks, he changed the scheme and made Paradela enter for Maidana, returning to the line of 4. Mineiro smelled blood. Right between the centrals appeared Hulk (of enormous first time) taking advantage of a filtered ball and stinging the ball over Armani to sign his cry at 34 ′.

At the end of the stage, with a header from Martínez, River was again close to discounting. Possession was also even, there was a technical draw, as in the shots on goal. But in the facts, O Galo was superior, from the attitude and the blackboard. And the difference was highlighted above all in the hierarchy in the areas, a deficit that at the Copa Libertadores level is paid dearly.

Played by played, Gallardo forced the limits in the complement. Vigo entered for the injured Angileri (“he punctured me,” he said, in the last action of the initial stage) and De la Cruz for Zuculini. The plan: to have more firepower on stick by stick, something that didn’t happen.

Mineiro continued to be lethal in each replica, taking advantage of the spaces. At 9 ′ of the second half, Hulk put the visiting defense on and enabled Zaracho, who in front of the goal deflected his attempt over the crossbar. Y, At 16, Savarino threw a tight cross that the Argentine midfielder headed for 3-0.

This conquest lowered the blind to the party. Hulk and Zaracho continued to punish River’s defense with their cunning, power and speed, who took care of some names for the local tournament (Carrascal and Girotti saw action) and approached with attempts from the aforementioned youth, from Romero and with a free kick that Éverson (an archer) unbelievably took De la Cruz out of him.

River suffered the absence of Enzo Pérez (suspended), but the local lacked Nacho Fernández. In the friction of the alternatives, once again, the distance between one and the other was noticed.

But the key made it clear that the Millionaire paid an onerous toll for the bleeding of figures that he suffered in dripping in recent years, with Gonzalo Montiel as the last exponent. The last batch of purchases (Vigo, Paradela, Palavecino, Romero, Fontana, Enzo Fernández, among others) has not yet gone through the adaptation stage or offered the leap in quality that such an advanced instance of Copa demands. Unlike what happened in the last edition, in which he brought Palmeiras to his knees, he did not manage to raise his guard. He lost unceremoniously. There were no doubts.

Atlético Mineiro will be measured in the semifinals precisely against Palmeiras (current champion of the competition), a team that has just beaten Hernán Crespo’s San Pablo 3-0 in the second leg. And river It will have to continue with its reconstruction, thinking about the Professional League, waiting for what will happen with Gallardo at the end of the year, when the contract ends..

Formations:

Atlético Mineiro: Everson; Mariano, Nathan Silva, Junior Alonso, Guilherme Arana; Allan, Jair, Matías Zaracho; Jefferson Savarino, Hulk and Eduardo Vargas. DT: Cuca.

River Plate: Franco Armani; Milton Casco, Paulo Díaz, Jonatan Maidana, David Martínez, Fabrizio Angileri; Enzo Fernández, Bruno Zuculini, Julián Álvarez; Braian Romero and Matías Suárez. DT: Marcelo Gallardo.

Stadium: Mineirao (Belo Horizonte)

Referee: Roberto Tobar (Chile)