The Uruguayan was losing more and more ground in the Academy. After being a substitute with the Sebastián Grazzini-Ezequiel Videla duo, the Academy defender started as a starter with the arrival of Gustavo Costas. He then started going to the bench and now, for the first time in the League Cup, he won’t even occupy that place. Gastón Martirena in Racing was left out of the list of 23 called by Gustavo Costas to receive Sarmiento this Tuesdayfrom 8 p.m. in the Cilindro.
With the recovery of players who overcame injuries, the right back lost his space as a relief option, something that could be presumed due to his lack of performance in the last half due to being relegated. Martirena began the competition well placed in the coach’s consideration. In fact, he acted from the start in the first three games. On the initial date, against Unión, he started in the 1-0 loss at the Cilindro, as a right back within a line of four. In the 3-0 win over Tigre he played the role of winger-midfielder with three/five in the background. And he carried that function forward in the 0-0 with Estudiantes, in La Plata.
After that game on the third date, as a result of his poor performance, the Academy defender did not add more minutes. He sat on the bench against San Lorenzo, Newell’s, Godoy Cuz, Independiente and Platense. Already with Leonardo Sigali and Juan Nardoni available on the bench, Costas decided to marginalize Martirena, since he has coverage with Facundo Mura, Tobías Rubio and Iván Pillud to mark up front, and Santiago Solari can be added to them as a winger-midfielder.
Martirena in Racing was left out of those mentioned for the first time in the League Cup. Via @racingclub
Beyond Martirena, the possible formation of Racing against Sarmiento
With respect to the rest of the team, it is a fact that Juan Fernando Quintero will reappear from the start, after entering the second half against Calamar, in Vicente López. As agreed with the coach, Juanfer rested in that game after the external sprain in his left knee. That physical setback that did not prevent him from starting in the 1-0 victory in the Avellaneda classic, with a goal from Adrián Maravilla Martínez, in the Libertadores de América. The midfielder will play loose in a 3-4-1-2 formation that will be repeated.
In turn, Costas must define who will be the right-back-midfielder in the Academy: the candidates are Santiago Solari and Facundo Mura. The winger would have the advantage. And with his eventual presence, Costas would look for greater depth due to his natural winger status.
The coach will also choose between Maximiliano Salas and Roger Martínez in the Academy to accompany Adrián Martínez. The Colombian would have more chips and would return from the beginning, something he did for the last time on the second round of the League Cup, in the 3-0 win over Tigre. That January 31, Roger scored a goal. And a while later he had a grade two sprain in his right ankle. The forward returned to the bench in the Avellaneda classic (he did not add minutes) and did enter in the ST versus Platense, with a great pass that left Maravilla Martínez one-on-one with goalkeeper Cozzani. It was Racing’s only clear scoring chance in the entire match. But Maravilla defined poorly.
Cover photo: @racingclub
2024-03-05 15:56:15
#Martirena #bench #Racing #Sarmiento
