Fluminense faced Cerro Porteño in the Libertadores in 2021Lucas Merçon/Fluminense FC
Published 04/25/2024 07:00
Rio – For the third time in history, Fluminense and Cerro Porteño, from Paraguay, face each other in continental competitions. After facing each other in the knockout stages of the 2009 Sudamericana and 2021 Libertadores, the teams will meet again this Thursday (25th), at 7pm (Brasília time), at the General Pablo Rojas Stadium, in Asunción, for the 3rd round of the group stage of the Libertadores, and write a new chapter in the rivalry.
Three years ago, Fluminense and Cerro Porteño faced each other in the round of 16 of the Libertadores. Just like in the 2009 South American semifinal, Tricolor qualified, but this time without a general fight. Among those listed for this Thursday’s match, six names remain from the last meeting: Samuel Xavier, Manoel, André, Martinelli, Ganso and Calegari.
On the Cerro Porteño side, six players also remained since the last meeting. The goalkeeper Jean he was the only one who played in both matches of the current edition of the Libertadores. Federico Carrizo he also played in both games, but coming off the bench, and scored the winning goal against Alianza Lima. Already Enzo Giménez played one. Rafael Carrascal He did not play in the Libertadores, but has 10 appearances in the Paraguayan Championship. Already Miguel Martinez It is Rodrigo Delvalle They didn’t even take the field that year.
What has changed at Cerro Porteño?
The biggest change at Cerro Porteño since the last meeting with Fluminense was off the field. In 2021, the team was led by former player Francisco Arce, but did not appear to have an identity. Today, the Paraguayan team has one under the command of Spaniard Manolo Jiménez. The coach took over in March and, since then, the team has been going through a good phase.
Manolo Jiménez, 60 years old, has already played for clubs such as Sevilla. Cerro Porteño is second in the Paraguayan Championship. In the last three games, they won all of them and didn’t concede any goals. The last defeat happened on March 9, 10 days before the Spanish coach was hired, still under the command of Argentine Victor Bernay.
On the field, Cerro Porteño has well-known names in Brazilian football. In addition to goalkeeper Jean, who played for São Paulo and Atlético-GO, the Paraguayan team has defender Edward Brockex-Cruzeiro, the steering wheel Piris da Mottaex-Flamengo, and the center forwards Eduformerly Coritiba and Cruzeiro, and Churin, ex-Grêmio. With the exception of the last one, the rest are starters with Manolo Jiménez.
And what changed in Fluminense?
Since the last meeting with Cerro Porteño, Fluminense has consolidated itself among the main forces in Brazilian and South American football. Last year, he won the long-awaited Libertadores and was runner-up in the Club World Cup. On the field, only the right-back Samuel Xavier and the steering wheel Martinelli remained holders.
Already Manuel, who started against Cerro Porteño in 2021, had not started the matches. The defender started against Vasco, but until then he was an option on the bench. It is worth remembering that he was suspended for eight months for doping. Andrew It is Goosein turn, were promoted to the starting team and became essential to Fluminense’s success during this period.
From the team that started the match three years ago, names like Marcos Felipe, Luccas Claro, Egídio, Yago Felipe, Nenê, Luiz Henrique and Gabriel Teixeira left the club, while Fred ended his career. The coach Roger Machado He also does not remain at the club, having been replaced in the same year by Marcão and, later, Abel Braga, in 2022.
But there is no doubt that Fluminense’s biggest change was creating a game identity. Since the arrival of coach Fernando Diniz in May 2022, Tricolor has jumped to another level and won the Libertadores. “Dinizismo” helped to develop young people like Andrew, Martinelli and Ariasand recovered the good football of players like Goose. Furthermore, the arrivals of veterans such as Fábio, Felipe Melo, Marcelo and Cano also contributed to the success.
