May 25, 2024, 04:08 ET
This Saturday, May 25, Junior and Atlético Bucaramanga face each other at the Metropolitano de Barranquilla for the fifth day of Group A of the semi-final quadrangulars, only victory is useful for both if they want to continue fully in the fight for a place in the final.
This match will be played knowing what the result was between the leader Deportivo Pereira (7 Points) and the bottom team Millonarios (4Pts). Both Junior and Atlético Bucaramanga have 5 units on the home run table.
The last time both teams met It was two weeks ago, the match was played in Bucaramanga and the match ended in a goalless draw. However, the last time these two teams met in Barranquillathe victory went to Junior who won 2-0 with goals from Yimmy Chará and Carlos Bacca.
Junior will not have José Enamorado who will serve his second suspension date, but will have his main players, among them the experienced attacker Carlos Bacca who is the top scorer of the season with 11 goals. Among other novelties is the return of Didier Moreno who served his suspension due to the accumulation of yellow cards and the returns of Vladimir Hernández and Roberto Hinojoza, who recovered from their injuries. For their part, Bryan Castrillón and Marco Pérez will be absent for Tiburón.
Rafael Dudamel, Venezuelan coach in charge of Bucaramanga, told Tribuna Deportiva before traveling to Barranquilla: “The message is one of optimism. The team is calm and we are aware that we are playing a large percentage of our place in the final in this match. Both teams have the same need, but we go with that optimism, ambition and enthusiasm as always.”
It is worth remembering that in 1997 Atlético Bucaramanga was able to advance to the final of the tournament after defeating Junior and then securing what was its first and only participation in CONMEBOL Libertadores, twenty-seven years later Leopardo wants to repeat the feat.
Possible formations
Junior: Mele, Pacheco, Olivera, Peña, Fuentes, Moreno, Cantillo, González, Chará, Caicedo and Bacca.
Bucaramanga: Quintana, Mena, Henao, Cuesta, Florez, Castro, Gutiérrez, Sambueza, Hinestroza, Micolta and Mosquera.
