Flamengo embarks on a journey to Ecuador for a crucial Libertadores duel against Independiente del Valle.
Flamengo began its journey to Ecuador on Monday afternoon (07). The delegation of the red-and-black club boarded a flight bound for Quito, where they will face Independiente del Valle (ECU) in a decisive match for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals.
The match is scheduled for Thursday (10) at the Estádio Olímpico Atahualpa, which presents the challenge of an altitude of 2,850 meters above sea level.
Early Preparation for Altitude
Aiming to adapt to the specific conditions of the location, Flamengo‘s squad advanced their travel, departing three days before the game. The Rio de Janeiro team held its final training sessions in the Pará capital, Belém, after competing in the Brazilian Championship.
Full coverage of the delegation’s boarding and arrival is being provided by the Coluna do Fla team. Reporters Rock Hudson and Simon Lédo are following the behind-the-scenes action directly from the hotel in Belém.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo Lima is already in Quito, broadcasting information about the weather and preparations in the Ecuadorian capital.
Training Routine and Game Information
After landing on Ecuadorian soil, head coach Leonardo Jardim will lead two more training sessions at LDU‘s training center. Combined with the activity held in Belém, Flamengo will have a total of three preparation sessions before facing Independiente del Valle.
The first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals between Independiente del Valle and Flamengo will kick off at 9:30 PM (Brasília time) on Thursday.
The return match is scheduled for September 17th at the Maracanã Stadium. In case of a tie in the aggregate score, the spot in the semifinals will be decided by penalty kicks.
By Equipe M360
