SOCCER
Marcelo is shining in Brazil for Fluminense; key player in 5-1 win over River Plate
The Brazilian was a key player in Fluminense’s 5-1 win over River Plate, assisting a goal for Germán Cano.
Fluminense smashed River Plate in the Copa Libertadores with a remarkable performance by Marcelo. The former Real Madrid player started on the third match day of the South American competition against the Argentinian side, where Flu grabbed their biggest ever win against the team led by Martín Demichelis. For River Plate, the 5-1 defeat was a real catastrophe witnessed at the Maracaná; for Marcelo and his team, it was a historic victory.
It was said of Marcelo that he was going to Brazil to hang up his boots and live a quiet life after winning countless titles in Europe. However, at 34 (he will turn 35 in just a few days) he continues to showcase that same magic with the ball with one example being one of the goals scored by Germán Cano. The Brazilian broke through two lines of pressing rivals with a beautiful ball to the Argentine to finish the move and seal the win.
Marcelo has been a stalwart in defence
As for his defensive duties, Marcelo put in a strong performance, winning four of six duels and achieving a 72% success rate with his passes. In addition to this, his presence as a left back allowed Keno to be swapped so that he could play inside, which caused confusion in River Plate’s defence and gave him more freedom on the field. This was a successful tactical strategy on the part of coach Fernando Diniz, who made the most of his team’s abilities to win by a landslide.
The signing of Marcelo for Fluminense is making the team fly in the Libertadores; with three consecutive victories in the first rounds, the Brazilian club lead Group D with nine points, demonstrating the importance of the Brazilian within the team. Without a doubt, Flu is one of the favourites to lift the Libertadores in a few months time.
