Deportes Tolima (Colombia) vs Flamengo (Brazil)
Deportes Tolima overcame the Copa Libertadores group stage for the first time since 1982 after finishing in second spot in group D on 11 points thanks to their 2-1 away success at Atletico Mineiro in Brazil. Last Sunday, the team won 2-1 at home over Atletico Nacional in the return leg of the Colombian Torneo Apertura final, but lost 4-3 on aggregate and couldn’t lift the title. On a positive note, El Pijao won three of their last four matches in all competitions, losing only once in that spell. At home, Tolima are on nine matches unbeaten (six victories and three stalemates).
Flamengo were the second best team in the group stage, managing 16 points from 18 on offer following their easy 2-1 home victory over Sporting Cristal on May 24th. On Saturday, O Rubro Negro also beat America Mineiro 3-0 at home to break a two-game losing streak in all competitions and climb into ninth spot in the Brazilian league table on 18 points in 14 games. On a sorry note, Dorival Junior’s men are on four consecutive away defeats since beating Fluminense 2-1 in late May.
Tolima lost the colombian league final in a heartbreaking mode just 72 hours before this game with a last minute goal, and without important players like Marulanda and Plata they should have trouble against a more experienced Flamengo.