Rosario Central head coach Jorge Almirón confirmed that he will deploy a heavily rotated squad featuring reserve players for the upcoming domestic fixture against Barracas Central, prioritizing player fitness following a demanding Copa Libertadores knockout match. The decision follows a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Brazilian powerhouse Corinthians in the opening leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16.
Speaking to the media after the scoreless stalemate at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Almirón evaluated his side’s performance and addressed the physical toll exacted by the continental encounter. Despite failing to break the deadlock against the São Paulo-based club, the manager expressed satisfaction with the intensity and character displayed by Los Canallas against elite international competition.
Almirón Defends Performance and Laments Missed Chances
According to coverage from Rosario3, Rosario Central controlled stretches of the high-tempo match and generated several clear scoring opportunities, though they ultimately lacked the clinical finishing required to secure a first-leg advantage. Almirón emphasized that his team matched Corinthians stride for stride throughout the 90 minutes of intense, man-to-man action across the pitch.
“I think we played a very good match, that was my feeling. The team was up to the task,” Almirón stated in his post-match press conference, as reported by Rosario3. The manager added that the grueling nature of the fixture left his squad depleted in the final moments. “It was a man-to-man game all over the pitch, with an enormous amount of physical wear. We lacked just a little bit at the end. We made all the merits to win it.”
Central’s primary frustration centered on their lack of attacking precision in the final third. While the Argentine side managed to restrict Corinthians’ offensive output, they could not convert their territorial dominance into goals against the visiting defense. “We lacked accuracy, we had several scoring situations and they didn’t even shoot at our goal,” Almirón analyzed.
VAR Controversy and Late-Game Disputes
The fixture also featured notable officiating talking points that drew the attention of the technical staff. In the second half, referee Esteban Matonte was summoned by the video assistant referee system to review a potential penalty incident inside the Corinthians box. Ultimately, no foul was awarded, leaving the home side frustrated.
“When the VAR called, I thought it was going to be a penalty. It’s rare, but it’s already in the past,” Almirón commented regarding the reviewed play, referencing the broadcast analysis by SportsCenter. The manager additionally voiced complaints over an administrative dispute near the final whistle involving a stoppage-time substitution requested by the Brazilian visitors.
Squad Rotation Ahead of Barracas Clash
With the return leg in Brazil looming on the horizon, the short turnaround time between fixtures has forced the coaching staff’s hand regarding domestic team selection. Almirón confirmed that he will rest his core starters for the upcoming match against Barracas Central to safeguard players who have logged heavy minutes during this demanding stretch of the season.
“I understand this match was very physical, there is little time to recover. Surely we are going to make changes,” Almirón confirmed, as cited by Rosario3. The tactical pivot aims to protect key contributors while maintaining squad depth for the decisive continental showdown.
Looking Ahead to the Decisive Return Leg in Brazil
The scoreless draw leaves the round-of-16 series completely open as both clubs prepare for the return leg in São Paulo. Almirón expects Corinthians to maintain their tactical approach on home soil, noting that Central will look to replicate the defensive pressure that disrupted the visitors’ build-up play in Rosario.
“They are not going to change their way of playing. Today we led them to make mistakes at times and they couldn’t get out. We will try to do the same,” Almirón concluded. Los Canallas return to training aiming to balance domestic obligations against Barracas with the ultimate objective of securing a quarterfinal berth in South America’s premier club tournament.
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