Santos Laguna - River Plate (preview)
In a match without history in international competitions, River Plate will face, tonight, Santos Laguna, on the path to achieve it's third Copa Libertadores.
Leonardo Astrada still has some doubts in the line-up, namely in defence, being that Ariel Garce had an early exit in the match against Rosario, due to injury, and midfield, with the doubt between Marcelo Gallardo and Daniel Montenegro. For defence, the Astrada has several alternatives. The first would be Ricardo Rojas on the right or left side, due also to the absence of Juan Fernandez. The other two options for the right side would be Oscar Ahumada, a midfielder that played regularly in defence in the time of Manuel Pellegrino, and the most probable one, Eduardo Tuzzio, wich could be made possible with the inclusion of Cristian Nasuti on the center. In midfield, the only doubt is if Muñeco Gallardo will be fit to start the match, and play the full 90 minutes.
As for Santos Laguna, the mexicans will play with the same team that played the last match of the first fase, against Universidad Concepción. Most of the players were left out of the squad in last weekend defeat in the mexican league.
Probable line-ups
Santos Laguna: Cristian Lucchetti; Héctor Altamirano, Argemiro Veiga, Denis Caniza, Héctor López; Ruber Rodríguez, Carlos Carino, Federico Domínguez; Matías Vouso; Rodrigo Ruiz y Jared Borgetti. DT: Eduardo De la Torre
River: Franco Costanzo; Eduardo Tuzzio, Horacio Ameli, Cristian Nasuti, Ricardo Rojas; Eduardo Coudet, Javier Mascherano, Luis González; Marcelo Gallardo; Marcelo Salas y Fernando Cavenaghi. DT: Leonardo Astrada
Copa Libertadores First knock-out round
Dep. Táchira (VEN) - Nacional (URU) (4/5-11/5)
Sp. Cristal (PER) - Boca Jrs (ARG) (4/5-11/5)
Santos Laguna (MEX) - River Plate (ARG) (4/5-11/5)
São Caetano (BRA) - America (MEX) (5/5-12/5)
Liga Universitaria (ECU) - Santos (BRA (5/5-12/5)
Barcelona (ECU) - Once Caldas (COL) (6/5-13/5)
Rosario Central (ARG) - São Paulo (BRA) (6/5-13/5)
