Preview: Atlas vs. UA Maracaibo

By: Alan | March 24th, 2008

Atlas vs. Maracaibo Tomorrow Atlas will play in Venezuela against UA Maracaibo in their Copa Libertadores game. Atlas is currently tied with Colo Colo with 6 points in group 3, but the advantage goes to Atlas who has a greater goal differential (+3).

Coach Brindisi has a couple of decisions to make about his starting lineup, since he doesn’t have Achucarro (who will be playing for the Paraguayan national team) or Ulises Mendivil (who was injured in the first game against Maracaibo). With few options at forward, coach Brindisi is considering playing with a lone forward, Bruno Marioni. Marioni has not been the huge success he was expected to be, and I don’t think having him as a lone forward is the best choice, however, unless Brindisi brings up a player from a lower division, this is looking to be the most probable choice.

Marioni said in an interview that the team is frustrated for allowing Pumas to come back and tie after leading 3-1 at one point. This is a very strong concern because Atlas has a tendency to play too relaxed at the beginning and end of the game. This could come back and haunt them as they face a Maracaibo team that has nothing to lose in this game. Maracaibo is at the bottom of the group with 1 point and is playing the rest of the tournament for pride.

Atlas can count on the return of Néstor Vicente Vidrio, who was expelled during the game against Boca Juniors and who missed the first game against Maracaibo.

If Atlas can win this game they are almost guranteed to qualify to the next round, however, in the case of a tie things would get very interesting, and not at all pretty. Although Atlas is currently tied for first with Colo Colo, Boca Juniors is not that far behind with 4 points, which means that if Atlas ties and Boca Juniors wins Atlas could be bumped out of the top two spots in the group.

Predicted Lineup:
Jorge Bava, Gerardo Flores, Néstor Vidrio, Diego Colotto, Ricardo Jiménez, Eduardo Rergis, Christian Valdez, Emanuel Centurión, Juan Carlos Medina, Flavio Santos y Bruno Marioni.

My prediction: Atlas 1 - 0 UA Maracaibo