Finally, it’s time for the first leg of the 2019 Copa Libertadores semi-finals, and it promises to be a historical one.
The 2017 edition champions Grêmio and current Brasilerao leaders Flamengo will compete for a spot in the final. This clash will be full of great players and has all the potential to be one of the best recent match-ups in the competition. Wednesday evening, Arena do Grêmio. Are you ready?
Grêmio's trajectory to this phase, the team that will host in their stadium tomorrow, started with a relatively easy group stage, facing Libertad, Universidad Católica and Rosario Central. Grêmio finished in second place, justified by the fact the team did not give its maximum since it possessed a stronger team and rotated the players due to a problematic league schedule. In the round of 16, they once again faced their group opponent who finished above them, Libertad. This time Grêmio destroyed the Paraguayans 5-0 on the aggregate score.
In the quarterfinals, it was time for a first all Brazilian clash with Palmeiras, the best team of the first phase. In the first match, the team from São Paulo beat the Southerners 1-0. It seemed that their dream of once again winning the biggest competition of the continent was dead. However, that changed quickly. In the second match, despite being down 1-0, Grêmio turned it to 2-1 and held the score until the end. Aggregate score: 2-2, and due to two away goals, Grêmio went through. The dream is more than alive.
On the other hand, Flamengo did not have an easy first phase: Despite finishing in the first place of their group, the Carioca team managed the same number of points as second and third place and qualifying because of superior goal difference. In a group with LDU Quito, Peñarol and San José, Flamengo should have performed better.
Prior to the knockout phase, Flamengo replaced its coach: Abel Braga out and enter Portuguese Jorge Jesus, formerly of Benfica. However, the difficulties have just started: In the round of 16, Flamengo shockingly lost their first duel against Ecuadorian side Emelec 2-0. In the Maracana, they returned the favour with the same score and qualifying in nerve-wracking penalties. In the quarterfinals, they also faced a Brazilian opposition: Internacional from Porto Alegre, Gremio's biggest rival. This time, Fla qualified with relative ease. They won at home 2-0 and tied 1-1 away.
Now, we have this fantastic semi-final: Gremio, looking for their fourth title of the competition, while Flamengo for their second. On the side of the tricolour team, a significant problem before the game: young Jean Pyerre, one of the team's highlight players of the year, will be left out due to an injury. However, the team still has the excellent winger Éverton, arguably the best player in the country at the moment, plus a phenomenal defence.
Flamengo has, perhaps, the best team Brazil: Striker Gabriel Barbosa is on fire, and alongside Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta who is producing the best year of his career, Everton Ribeiro and Bruno Henrique, the team has been playing beautiful football, comfortably leading the Brazilian Championship. Jorge Jesus has transformed the team into a winning side.
We should expect a fantastic duel, as both teams have great players and excellent coaches, and they are full of surprises and tactical variations that make their game beautiful. Stay tuned, because one of the finalists will come out of this clash and will represent Brazil against the Argentinian side that will qualify from the other semi-final. This one is a classic in the making.