After 19 months, Independiente Medellín returns to international competition this Thursday (7:30 pm) at the Atanasio Girardot stadium, in its second appearance in the group stage of the Copa Sudamericana. The rival, the team October 9 from Ecuador, with a history of 109 years but little recognition abroad.
The last time the red team played at home in a Conmebol tournament was on September 24, 2002, for the group round of the Copa Libertadores. On that occasion, Boca Juniors from Argentina defeated him 0-1, in one of his worst runs as host, since he had previously lost to Libertad from Paraguay (1-2) and Caracas from Venezuela (2-3).
The scarlet fans hope that this bitter experience will be erased in 2022, although coach Julio Comesaña has said that his cast did not prepare for this tournament and that the priority is the local League.
The coach’s words did not sit well with a sector of the fans, who also did not welcome the justification for not using the idol Andrés Ricaurte, who, he says, must change his style of play to fit in with the group.
Despite the sincerity, which for many was not at the right time because it was prior to the international duel, the Uruguayan strategist said that they will fight to advance to another phase in which they will meet more qualified rivals who have just been eliminated from the Cup Liberators.
For now, the Reds show good behavior in the South American, by eliminating América de Cali in the last round and drawing 3-3 in Asunción with Guaireña, at the start of the current instance.
Apart from the controversy that broke out with Julio Avelino’s statements, the strategist said that for this Thursday’s duel he will maintain the base he has been using. The only variants would be at the back, in which he will choose between Yesid Díaz and Didier Bueno to accompany Andrés Cadavid and the left back between Yulián Gómez and Germán Gutiérrez.
little known
The 9th of October is a cast from Guayaquil, which honors with its name, which is the date of independence of this port city.
The Octobristas or Patriotic Team, as they are also called, is debuting in the South American and has three participations in the Libertadores (1966, 84, 85). Since 1962 it participates in the League of Ecuador.
His coach is Juan Carlos León and on the payroll he has 3 Panamanians and 2 Uruguayans. After eliminating Delfin from his country, he began the Cup group stage with a 2-2 win against Internacional from Brazil.
This, the new challenge of the Poderos that is going through a good sporting moment
