Libertadores Cup
Flamengo and River Plate to meet in Libertadores Final
Last year’s Copa Libertadores came to a dramatic and controversial conclusion at the Santiago Bernabeu. This year’s Final is set for Santiago, with defending champions River Plate of Argentina taking on Brazil’s Flamengo – the most refreshing club to hit South American domestic football for years – on November 23.
But there is a problem. This, of course, is the first year of a one-off showdown in a neutral venue.
Santiago had seemed like the safest of choices – but then Chile erupted in social unrest and a state of emergency was declared. CONMEBOL, the South American Confederation, is watching anxiously, hoping and trusting that things calm down in time. No Plan B has so far been announced, but the most logical alternative would probably be Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay,
which kicks off the era of neutral venue Finals on November 9 with Argentina’s Colon against Independiente del Valle of Ecuador in the Copa Sudamericana.
While the Sudamericana Final is a curious battle of unfashionable sides, the Libertadores is a different case entirely. Last year’s winners and fourtimes champions River Plate are clearly a famous name celebrated all over the world. Outside Brazil, though, the full dimension of Flamengo may not be fully appreciated. A giant club in a giant land, with a truly nationwide support base, the Rio de Janeiro club have been huge underachievers. It is extraordinary that this is only their second Libertadores Final – 38 years after their 1981 triumph.
For decades the club have limped through financial crises, so the first step in their recent rise was to balance the books. Then they went shopping and started to assemble a squad of formidable depth. Finally, in the middle of this year, came the vital part of the jigsaw. With the hiring of Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, Flamengo had a new, bold idea of play.
The fact that in the previous five years Brazil could only manage one Libertadores Final is a scandal, a declaration of collective incompetence. The country’s big clubs have a significant financial advantage over their continental rivals, but it was hard to see it on the pitch.
In 2018 Brazilian club after Brazilian club crashed out of the competition as a consequence of an excess of caution, with defensive lines so deep they were
practically on top of the keeper. But Jorge Jesus has put a stop to all that at Flamengo in an exhilarating few months, with the 6-1 aggregate semi-final hammering of compatriots Gremio standing as a high point.
Champions in 2017 and appearing in their third consecutive semi-final, Renato Portaluppi’s Gremio have had a fine run. Operating on a budget far more restricted than that of Flamengo or Palmeiras, they have forged an attractive identity as a possession-based side. But they were blown apart in the semi-final – perhaps even more so in the 1-1 draw at home than the 5-0 capitulation away.
Flamengo’s performance in the first half in Porto Alegre was one of the finest by a South American club side for many years. Gremio, who love to have the ball, were hounded and starved of possession. Flamengo, with Spanish centre-back Pablo Mari organising their high defensive line, camped in the opposing half, and with proximity between the sectors of the team, made the ball fizz in a series of rapid and incisive passing movements. They had three goals ruled out. And when Gremio thought they might have weathered the storm, Flamengo took the lead in typical style, driving forward in numbers, Gerson feeding playmaker Giorgian De Arrascaeta, whose cross to the far post was headed home by Bruno Henrique.
But as the game wore on Flamengo’s press lost some of its intensity, and Gremio started to find space. They crafted a late equaliser when Maicon played a neat pass to winger Everton, and his whipped ball across the face was turned in from close range by sub Pepe.
Gremio breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that Flamengo had missed their big chance. Twice earlier in the competition, after a disastrous start in the group phase and then in the previous round when they needed two goals away to Palmeiras, Gremio had dug themselves out of a hole.
For the return match a packed Maracana was expectant but nervous; signed up for the journey but unsure of where it might lead.
For a while the nerves seemed justified. Flamengo had most of the ball but Gremio had the clearest chance, Everton getting behind their defence and setting up a chance for Maicon, who was just foiled by fine covering from left-back Filipe Luis. And then, between the 43rd and 72nd minutes, Flamengo scored five times to set off the party.
Bruno Henrique began the rout shortly before half-time, setting up Gabriel and following up to tap in a blocked shot. Soon after the interval Gabriel effectively decided matters with a superb left-footed
Flamengo are the most refreshing club to hit South American domestic football for years
volley on the swivel after a corner had been half cleared, and he soon had another from the penalty spot. Then the centre-backs got into the act, with Mari and Rodrigo Caio both glancing home from set-pieces.
In truth, there were basic defensive errors in all of the goals, with Gremio captain Pedro Geromel enduring a very unhappy evening at centre back. But the mistakes were forced by an attacking machine operating at the top if its game – one that highly rated River Plate coach
Marcelo Gallardo must now work out how to stop.
River’s 2-1 aggregate win over Boca Juniors was nowhere near as emphatic as Flamengo’s triumph, but there was no doubt that the better side prevailed – and thankfully there was no repeat of last year’s off-field problems.
Gallardo’s task in the home first leg was to break down a disciplined Boca defence that had held on in relative comfort for a goalless draw in a recent league game. River concentrated on width, trying to get outside and behind the Boca back four, and were quickly rewarded when, with the aid of VAR, they won a penalty, converted by Rafael Santos Borre. The second goal was a thing of beauty, a collective move down the right ending in a close range finish from Nacho Fernandez.
Boca had shown depressingly little. Coach Gustavo Alfaro has a wealth of experience, but almost all of it has been acquired with relatively small clubs, and his cautious approach had not served him well in the first leg. Back in the Bombonera he would have to try something more expansive. Perhaps bowing to crowd pressure he opted to start with Carlos Tevez, who combined well but offered little threat to the goal. Mauro Zarate, Boca’s top scorer in the competition, would surely have offered more. Boca tried hard and managed to stifle River’s fluid attacking game, but their only hope appeared to come from set-pieces hit into the penalty area. River struggled to deal with the threat and there was late drama when one such free-kick ended up with burly Venezuelan substitute striker Jan Hurtado forcing the ball over the line. But Boca never looked to possess the attacking repertoire to retrieve a two goal deficit.
Flamengo, of course, offer a very different challenge. Their high line means that they are often attacking with eight players: full-backs Rafinha and Filipe Luis constructing from deep, Willian Arao and Gerson offering lung power and versatile quality in midfield, and then that front four – Everton Ribeiro and De Arrascaeta provide the playmaking subtleties, with the strike duo of Gabriel and Bruno Henrique moving across the line and attacking pockets of space.
The gameplan of the Brazilians, then, would seem obvious and they will look to take control. Less clear is Gallardo’s response. In his long spell with River he has developed the capacity to work with a number of different formations. In the first leg of last year’s Final, for example, he sprung a surprise by lining up with three centre-backs.
He will clearly examine his options, but one things is a given: Gallardo will surely expect Santos Borre to run in behind the Flamengo defence. And if they can hold the Brazilians at bay and wait for the intensity of the press to diminish, space could open up for Colombian playmaker Juan Fernando Quintero, back from injury, who could come off the bench to take advantage.
It is not easy to see how River can defend against Flamengo. But the defending champions will hope that big match experience and a canny coach might tip things their way.