RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) — The Copa Libertadores decider between Flamengo and Athletico Paranaense will mark the third time in as many years that both of the competition’s finalists are from Brazil.
But while Flamengo will be aiming to win the title for a third time – having also done so in 1981 and 2019 – Athletico are vying for their first triumph in South America’s equivalent of the UEFA Champions League.
Here are some of the major talking points ahead of Saturday’s match at the Monumental stadium in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
SCOLARI’S LAST DANCE?
Saturday’s match could mark the last final for Luiz Felipe Scolari, the mastermind of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup title in Japan and South Korea.
The 73-year-old, who replaced Fabio Carille as Paranaense manager in May, was quoted telling journalists earlier this month that his career is “coming to an end”.
Victory against the Rio de Janeiro giants in Guayaquil would ensure a glorious final chapter for one of the most successful managers in Brazil’s rich football history.
Scolari will be bidding for his third Libertadores trophy as a manager, having taken Gremio and Palmeiras to the pinnacle of South American club football in 1995 and 1999, respectively.
His list of honors also includes two Brazilian Serie A championships, four Copa do Brasil trophies and three Chinese Super League titles.
At international level, in addition to the 2002 World Cup triumph, Scolari led Portugal to the Euro 2004 final and the 2006 World Cup semifinals.
PROLIFIC PEDRO
Released by Fiorentina after an unproductive four-month spell in Italy, striker Pedro Abreu dos Santos has grown in confidence since joining Flamengo in January 2020.
This year, the 25-year-old has saved his best work for the Copa Libertadores, in which he is the competition’s leading scorer with 12 goals in as many games.
He was rewarded for his prolific form by earning a call-up to Brazil’s national team for friendlies last month. And the former Fluminense player didn’t disappoint, scoring after being introduced as a second-half substitute in the 5-1 rout of Tunisia in Paris.
Pedro is not the only attacking ace up Flamengo manager Dorival Junior’s sleeve. His goalscoring options also include the hero of Flamengo’s 2019 Copa Libertadores title, Gabriel Barbosa, Uruguayan playmaker Giorgian de Arrascaeta, highly rated teenager Matheus Franca and wily veteran Marinho.
TERANS THREAT
Uruguayan attacking midfielder David Terans will be key to Athletico Paranaense’s hopes of unlocking Flamengo’s defense. Terans has been in superb form for the club from Curitiba in southern Brazil, with 14 goals and eight assists across all competitions this season.
His performances have been noticed by Uruguay national team manager Diego Alonso, who included the 28-year-old in a preliminary 55-man squad for this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Paranaense are likely to need every ounce of Terans’ composure, creativity and scoring instinct to cause Flamengo problems on Saturday.
CALL TO FANS
South American football governing body CONMEBOL is expecting more than 40,000 spectators to flock to the Monumental stadium, which has undergone extensive redecorations for the final.
“It’s a completely revamped stadium because we are giving it a look and feel that is in line with the Libertadores brand,” CONMEBOL commercial manager Fernando Cardozo said.
“We are generating an expectation so that people can come to the stadium and be surprised. We are waiting for you [the fans] on Saturday so that you can participate and really see this great change that the stadium has undergone and be amazed,” he added.
CONMEBOL will be hoping for an improvement on the attendance figure for the Copa Sudamericana final earlier this month. The match at the 57,000-capacity Mario Kempes stadium in Cordoba, Argentina, attracted around 25,000 fans.
AGEING DUO
Experience can be both a virtue and a curse. For Flamengo’s defense, the presence of 35-year-old central defender David Luiz and 37-year-old left-back Filipe Luis is a double edged-sword.
While both have shown their value this season – providing invaluable leadership and setting a fine example of professionalism to their younger teammates – it is clear that their physical peak has passed.
With the temperature in Guayaquil expected to reach the low 30s [Celsius], Flamengo manager Dorival will have to choose his substitutions wisely and it would not be surprising to see at least one of the aforementioned duo given an early rest.