Neither of the two teams was able to violate their rival’s goal and everything will be decided in the second leg
The winner will face the team that qualifies in the Atlético Mineiro – Palmeiras series
The Athletico Paranaense Brazilian, of the ex-selector Luiz Felipe Scolari, yielded this Thursday a draw at home against Estudiantes de La Plata in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals.
In the first few minutes, both teams were cautious and only after 16 minutes did the first clear goal option present itself, this time for the Argentine team, when Luciano Lollo, after a corner kick, demanded a reaction from local goalkeeper Bento. In the 27th minute, with the support of the VAR, the Venezuelan referee Jesús Valenzuela disallowed a penalty that he had pointed out for an alleged hand in the area of Leonardo Godoy after a shot by the Argentine Tomás Neck.
The following minutes and the beginning of the second half were almost identical, with an even process, but without major dangerous plays on Bento and visiting goalkeeper Mariano Andújar. In the last quarter of an hour, Athletico Paranaense, current champion of the Copa Sudamericana, advanced their lines and added all their chips in the attack. In the 81st minute, the referee annulled a goal by defender Thiago Heleno for offside by right back Khellven, one of Paranaense’s most incisive players.
The second leg will be played on Thursday of next week in La Plata. The winner of the series will meet in one of the semifinals against the winner of the one between the Brazilians Atlético Mineiro and Palmeiras, who tied 2-2 in the first leg in Belo Horizonte and will define their classification in Sao Paulo.