After the shock over the death of the fan, River has to think about the final that is coming against Fluminense

After the shock that was experienced in the Monumental by the death of the fan Pablo Marcelo Serrano, and beyond the impact and pain generated, Martín Demichelis’s team has to put its head in an important duel for the Copa Libertadores. This Wednesday they will receive Fluminense starting at 9:00 p.m., in a decisive clash for the future of the Núñez team in the maximum continental tournament.

Logically, footballers still have a hard time processing what happened to the deceased fan: Paul Serrano, 53 years old. Although Demichelis immediately focused on chatting with the group and working with the emotions of the players to try to have as little impact as possible on the preparation of the team to play against the Flu.

It is that River will play an anticipated final. By remaining in last place in Group D, after four games played, the margin of error narrowed. And the scenarios are diverse. If he wins, he will gain momentum and continue to rely on himself to qualify; and if they tie or lose, they should hope that The Strongest doesn’t beat Sporting Cristal because if that happens, they will be eliminated.

The squad trained on Sunday and Monday at the Ezeiza RiverCamp and there were positive football news for Demichelis. It is that the defenders Paulo Díaz and Emanuel Mammana returned to work alongside the group and may be available to the coach against Flu.

What’s more, if they see the Chilean well, he could start instead of Robert Rojas. What is certain is that against the Rio de Janeiro team Milton Casco will return to the left side (on Saturday he was preserved by charge management) and Andrés Herrera will continue in the right sector.

Meanwhile, in the middle, with Enzo Pérez (still with differentiated work due to synovitis in his right knee) out due to suspension since he reached three yellow cards in the Libertadores, the fixed is that Demichelis repeats the Aliendro-De la duo Cruz in the central axis, with the return of Nacho Fernández as an attacking midfielder, together with Esequiel Barco and, perhaps, Santiago Solari. And Lucas Beltrán would be the only striker.

For its part, Fluminense, with the Argentine Germán Cano as the starter, has just cut a streak of five games without victories (four defeats and one draw, including elimination from the Brazil Cup, where he was left out after losing with his classic rival, Flamengo) by beating Bragantino 2-1 in the Brasileirao.

“We got to the match against River very well. And it will be a very decisive match. I would love to be able to score a goal on the River field, it would be a great dream to do so,” said the Argentine Cano, who already converted the Núñez club (he scored three goals) in the match at the Maracaná, in which Fluminense thrashed by 5 to 1.

Franco Petroli, on loan

Goalkeeper Franco Petroli will go on loan, without charge or purchase option, to Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, a Cordovan team that plays in the First National. The idea is to film the 24-year-old goalkeeper, who had been River’s third goalkeeper, behind Franco Armani and Ezequiel Centurión.

The intention is for Petroli, who has been a member of the youth teams since the Under-15s, to gain experience as happened with Centurión when he was loaned to Estudiantes de Buenos Aires and then returned. Meanwhile, Lucas Lavagnino, goalkeeper of the Argentine Sub-20, will remain as the third goalkeeper of the Martín Demichelis squad.

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