Atlético Nacional Prepares for the Maracaná Assault.

By: Mauro | May 6th, 2008

Fluminense Football Club vs. Corporación Deportiva Atlético Nacional (Estadio Maracaná, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
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At least an assault is what it seems like it will be tonight. Both sides present form is quite different. While Fluminense is coming off the win in Colombia and prior to that were the most effective team in the group stage, Atlético Nacional was not far and away the best team in their group and managed to qualify because Audax Italiano, who with a win would have qualified, failed to win at Sportivo Luqueño.

Atlético Nacional have everything to play for tonight since a loss here, even by the the smallest difference, would eliminate them outright. In fact, not only do they have to win, but they have to do it by a difference of two goals.

It won’t be easy, however, and I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you. The 2-1 result was only a small portion of what the away match will bring when Fluminense settle in to their home pitch and start playing.

Atl. Nacional are, however, coming off a win at the weekend to Deportivo Pasto with a goal from Carlos Villagra for the 1-0 victory. This win allows them to continue into the semis of their local league tournament and might give them enough momentum to put up quite a fight. Unfortunately, they have made this trip to Brazil without their leading goalscorer due to an ankle sprain.

All is not lost for Atlético Nacional, while it is not likely, they could catch their hosts on the bad foot and surprise them since the balance has fallen so far in the Brazilians favor.

Flu is easily the favorite tonight and in my opinion, to also advance into the quarter finals. They have two strikers with 3 goals (Cicero and Washington) and we should see the return of Dodo from injury as he could possibly see some minutes in the second half if not start from the get go. Thiago Silva has not recovered from his injury in the first leg of this tie last week so he will not be available to play tonight. Roger will take his place.

Expect to see Flu line up and take the same strategy that they took in the first leg. They came out and played a nice brand of football with Thiago Neves and Dario Conca pulling the strings in the midfield, so there should be more of that tonight.

Bottom Line: Flu has a great roll going and is unbeaten, actually, has won all their matches at home. Atlético Nacional, meanwhile have had mixed results, managing a win and two losses as the away team. My pick: 3-0 to Flu. This could be a bloodletting.

Check the CONMEBOL website for results, stats and upcoming matches.

Also, read my thoughts on the first leg here.