Team lineup confirmed for Cerro Porteño
Less than an hour before the start of the match, Cerro Porteño has a fully confirmed team to face Sportivo Trinidense at the Nueva Olla, for matchday 13 of the Apertura 2023 tournament, in a match where "Ciclón" needs to win to close the gap with Libertad, the tournament's sole leader.
Enzo Giménez, Pedro Álvarez, Antonio Galeano, and Fernando Fernández are the four main novelties proposed by Argentine coach Facundo Sava for this clash.
Giménez will play as right-back instead of youth player Alan Núñez, who had started as a starter against Tacuary in the last matchday and in the absence of Alberto Espínola due to suspension. Meanwhile, young center-back Pedro Álvarez will replace Brazilian Eduardo Brock.
Another forced absence for the Sunday's game is captain Diego Churín, whose place will be taken by Fernando Fernández. Sava has also decided to give Robert Morales some rest, who will be on standby considering the Libertadores Cup match. Antonio Galeano will replace "Pantera" but Braian Samudio will play as the second forward alongside "Fiera".
Comments
All the players of the main team of Olimpia Club published a statement through their social media accounts this Sunday expressing their concern about the lack of security they felt on Saturday when they were confronted by upset Olimpia fans at the Manuel Ferreira stadium, after the defeat against Nacional for matchday 13 of the Apertura 2023 tournament.
"We repudiate all forms of violence on and off the field, specifically the exercise of aggression and/or threats to those involved in this sport, urging those who participate in these acts to express their dissatisfaction or discontent with the team's performance and/or results, but without resorting to acts that may affect the physical integrity of all those who are involved with the institution and especially on this occasion, ours", reads part of the note that appeared on each of the athletes' profiles.
"However, we understand it is pertinent to express our great concern regarding the lack of guarantees provided by those responsible for the event, who should ensure the safety of all those who participate in the event, leaving us yesterday in a total defenselessness while nothing was done other than performing our profession with the love and commitment that characterizes us", can be read further down.
It is worth remembering that the match took place at Olimpia's own stadium, and it was the home fans who ended up violating, so to speak, security and made the players feel tense due to the recent poor results.
"Demanding, therefore, that the necessary measures be taken to prevent situations like the ones that took place yesterday, from the legitimacy of not wanting to experience them again", expresses the final part of the statement.
Olimpia Club in Turmoil
Olimpia's world is in turmoil. The consecutive defeats have deeply affected the atmosphere of the "Decano" club that just months ago was crowned as champions of the Clausura, however, the results and the current performance do not correspond to the aspirations of the "franjeados".
After the defeat against Nacional, the "organized fans" seized the club premises and confronted the players who were barely guarded by the security forces of the event, something that the Olimpia players did not overlook by issuing a statement and making it known through their respective social media accounts.
One of those who responded to this turbulence that Olimpia is going through is captain Derlis González, who is absent due to a knee injury, and he used his Instagram account to send a message directed to... the fans?, although he later deleted the story to release the mentioned statement.
"In good times, everyone is with you, in bad times, no one", was the clear message of the "10" on his Instagram, although he later deleted the post.
