Coquimbo Unido is preparing to return home this Sunday, when they will host Deportes Concepción at the Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso Stadium at 12:00 PM, for the third round of Group A of the Copa de Liga. The champion arrives as the leader with 4 points, while the "lila" team has only one point, making this a crucial match to maintain the top position and gain an advantage for the upcoming rematches. The 1-0 victory against Huachipato at the CAP, with a goal from Salvador Cordero, brought relief to the aurinegro squad.
However, ahead of the match, coach Hernán Caputto has had to deal with a complex situation marked by injuries. In terms of offensive losses, striker Nicolás Johansen remains sidelined after suffering a muscle tear, with his return projected for the league's resumption or the start of the Copa Libertadores. He is joined by defender Elvis Hernández, who has a muscle issue and will be out for at least two weeks.
The main concern, however, is Luis Riveros. The Paraguayan forward suffered a fracture in a finger during training and has already undergone surgery, which will keep him out for an estimated two to three weeks. His absence will prevent him from participating in the Copa Libertadores debut against Nacional from Uruguay, scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, at the port.
In this context, Caputto will seek to restructure his lineup to maintain competitiveness in a demanding schedule, with travel and three Copa de Liga matches in 10 days, as well as the first international match against the Uruguayan team. For the match against Deportes Concepción, the probable lineup would include Flores, Salinas, Gazzolo, Fernández, Cornejo, Galani, Camargo, Zavala, Rodríguez, Azócar, and Vadalá. One player emerging as a solid alternative is Francisco Salinas, who valued his performance after the match against Huachipato and highlighted the collective effort.
"I felt quite good, comfortable. I had already played in that position and I’m happy with the performance and the resul…
"It doesn't matter who plays; everyone is doing their best. We have worked on high pressure, and that was reflected in the match," he affirmed. Looking ahead, Salinas anticipated a demanding schedule.
"There will be a lot of travel; we need to rest well and get results both at home and away," he commented. Regarding the upcoming opponent, he expressed respect but made the objective clear. "Concepción has important names, but we need to be strong at home and secure the three points," he concluded.