River Plate will face Independiente Santa Fe on August 20 at El Campín in the Copa Sudamericana. Coach Eduardo Coudet will rest Thiago Almada, who started in the 2-0 win over Argentinos Juniors last week. The match was postponed due to an August 10 earthquake, allowing the coach to integrate the midfielder after a week of training. However, Almada will sit out to avoid physical strain.
The team faces defensive challenges after injuries to Gonzalo Montiel (left adductor) and Marcos Acuña (right hamstring). Both are unavailable and not registered for the continental competition. The coach is considering two tactical options: moving Lucas Martínez Quarta to defense or giving Ángel Susano his debut. The preferred setup includes Lautaro Rivero as left center back and Facundo González as left back.
The proposed lineup is: Santiago Beltrán; Lucas Martínez Quarta, Nicolás Otamendi, Lautaro Rivero, Facundo González; Aníbal Moreno, Tobías Andrada; Tomás Galván; Ángel Correa; Joaquín Freitas and Rafael Santos Borré. The coach prioritizes continuity with the strategy tested in recent training sessions.
