Atlético Mineiro and River Plate Clash in Copa Libertadores Semifinals

Atlético Mineiro and River Plate are set to face off in the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores, with the first leg scheduled for this Wednesday at 8:30 PM local time at the Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. This highly anticipated match marks a crucial stage in the competition, with the winner advancing to the final and a chance to claim the prestigious title and significant financial rewards.

The match follows a strong performance by Atlético Mineiro, who recently qualified for the final of the Copa do Brasil after a draw with Vasco, thanks in part to a stunning free-kick goal by Hulk. Under the guidance of coach Gabriel Milito, Atlético Mineiro has shown resilience and skill, having overcome Fluminense in the previous round of the Libertadores with a 2-0 win at home after losing the first leg 1-0.

River Plate, managed by Marcelo Gallardo, comes into the match with a solid record in the Libertadores, having gone 10 games without a loss in the current tournament. They advanced to the semifinals by defeating Talleres and then Colo-Colo in the previous rounds. In the Argentine league, River Plate currently sits in eighth place with 26 points.

The probable lineups for Atlético Mineiro include key players such as Éverson, Lyanco, Junior Alonso, Guilherme Arana, Gustavo Scarpa, and the dynamic duo of Hulk and Paulinho. Fausto Vera and Deyverson are expected to return after missing the Copa do Brasil match, while Bernard, Cadu, and Matias Zaracho are out due to injuries.

River Plate’s lineup is likely to feature Franco Armani, Germán Pezzella, Leandro González Pirez, and Nacho Fernández, who is a former Atlético Mineiro player. The team may adopt a defensive strategy with a possible 5-3-2 or 4-4-2 formation.

The match will be broadcast live on ESPN and Disney+, and fans can follow the game in real-time through various sports platforms. The second leg of the semifinal will take place on October 29 at the Monumental de Núñez in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The stakes are high, with the winner of this semifinal series set to face either Botafogo or Peñarol in the final on November 30. The champion will receive a significant prize of $23 million and a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.