The news of Agustín Almendra’s return is one of the most celebrated in Racing. Juanfer Quintero’s main partner is already recovered from his muscle injury and Gustavo Costas is confident that he will be able to have him this Saturday against Central Córdoba. However, the tough schedule ahead for the Academy does not allow taking unnecessary risks. As much as the match in Santiago del Estero is essential to continue having a chance in the League Cup, it is not the only objective.
Thursday will be the debut in the Copa Sudamericana. Racing will visit Sportivo Luqueño in Paraguay and cannot lose Almendra again. That is why the coaching staff has already decided to restrict the minutes of the former Boca midfielder. If between now and Saturday he confirms that he is ready to play, Agustín will do so for a maximum of 60 minutes. And it is not even confirmed that he is a starter. The other variant, also very drinkable, is for him to add minutes from the bench. About 30 in Central Córdoba and arrives with rhythm for its international debut.
“Almendra is great, but not for 90 minutes yet,” they confided to Racing de Alma. The midfielder was injured against Sarmiento and will spend more than three weeks away from the field. He missed the games against Boca, Defensa and the Argentine Cup. And it will be against Central Córdoba for a while, which forces us to rethink the midfield again. If he goes in, it is likely that he will share the area with Sosa and a third midfielder, who would not come from Nardoni or Miranda. If he is a substitute, the options open up and Costas could even use another scheme with only two central midfielders.
At the time, the Racing coach had regretted losing Almendra. “He was in a great moment. It hurts me a lot to lose him. We were doing well, taking it little by little and it’s a shame”said the Academy coach in a talk with Miter radio. And he revealed what his plan was, which he had to alter: “If we had beaten Platense, maybe I would have taken out Zuculini and Almendra. Sometimes the results complicate you. “I couldn’t do it because we had a lot at stake against Sarmiento.”
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