Fortaleza Prepares for Key Match Against Bucaramanga in Copa Libertadores

Fortaleza, Brazil — Fortaleza will host Bucaramanga on Tuesday, May 13, as part of the fifth round of Group E in the Copa Libertadores. The match is scheduled to kick off at 21:30 (ARG/URU), 20:30 (CHI), and 19:30 (COL/PER/ECU).

Fortaleza currently sits in third place in the group and needs to secure points to advance to the knockout stages. Their only victory so far was against the Argentinian team Racing in Avellaneda. Forward Kevin Londoño emphasized the importance of improvement, stating, “There are six points left. We are close to qualifying, but we need to improve a lot.”

Fortaleza has shown promising form recently, with a convincing 4-0 victory over Colo Colo in their last match. Goal scorer Londoño is back in form, having netted three goals so far in the group stage. Additionally, Fortaleza secured two wins earlier this week, overpowering their Chilean rivals.

Coach Juan Vojvoda reflected on the team’s performance, saying, “We played a good match, very seriously, with many scoring opportunities. We defended well and were aggressive, which is crucial for the team’s confidence.”

Bucaramanga enters the match with morale-boosting news after their recent 2-0 win over DIM in the Colombian league. They will benefit from the return of striker Luciano Pons, who was missed during the last match against Racing.

Assistant coach Rubén Bedoya highlighted the significance of their recent victory, stating, “It gave us motivation for what is coming on Tuesday. It was the right approach, and we were fortunate that the team performed well in that match.”

The two teams previously faced each other on April 23, 2025, ending in a 1-1 draw, with goals from Pons and Deyverson.