We already have the first semifinalist of the 2023 Copa Libertadores. This Tuesday (29), Internacional confirmed its favoritism, beat Bolívar 2-0 in Beira-Rio and advanced to the next stage in the continent’s most important competition. At the stadium and on social media, Colorado fans praised coach Eduardo Coudet, the firepower of the team’s attack, and of course, the club’s ranking.
Inter had the knife and cheese in hand even before taking the field. Having won at the altitude of La Paz by 1 to 0, Colorado could even draw at Beira-Rio, which would still have the vacancy. But Coudet’s team didn’t want to risk it. Therefore, after just 11 minutes of the first half, he sealed the stop with Enner Valencia. The Ecuadorian striker took advantage of Wanderson’s good play, received a sugary pass from his teammate in the Bolivian area and hit a beautiful shot to open the scoring.
During the complementary stage, the number 13 scored another great goal and took Beira-Rio down. The attempt sealed Colorado’s phase passage for good.
Despite the short time at home, Valencia can already be considered the darling of Inter’s fans. Ecuador’s highlight in the 2022 World Cup, the striker showed harmony with Wanderson in the attack and once again proved that he is lethal in the final third of the field. The good functioning of the Colorado offensive sector was cause for celebration on the part of the fans, who filled social networks with praise for Coudet.
Eduardo Coudet’s inter knows how to play a cup night
— YAGO MOMBACH (@ymombach) August 29, 2023
Imagine Inter with Mano Menezes closing the house against Bolívar at home…
Colorado fan, enjoy Eduardo Coudet’s Inter
— Alam (25/45) (@alamcarrion11) August 29, 2023
GOAT pic.twitter.com/4XkNMCJfnu
— lauraˢᶜᶦ (@interkpeta) August 29, 2023
He is the best uhuuu interrrrrrrrrr @EnnerValencia14 !!!
— Lu Flores (@LuFlores_) August 29, 2023
Giant Enner Valencia, big guy
— Rosana XS (@RosanaXimenes2) August 30, 2023
Coudet’s numbers at Inter
Eduardo Coudet is on his second spell at Internacional. In the first, he made the team play good football and missed the Colorado fans, who suffered when the coach chose to transfer to Spanish football. In the current season, Chacho saw the perfect opportunity to return to the Gaucho club and finish the unfinished work.
After an unsuccessful period ahead of Atlético-MG, Coudet reached a friendly termination with the Minas Gerais team in June. The following month, after the departure of Mano Menezes, Internacional arranged for Chacho to return. Since the Argentine coach took over, Colorado has had three wins, three draws and four defeats. All triumphs were for Libertadores, the main objective and dream of consumption of the club from Rio Grande do Sul.
Who will Internacional face in the semi-final?
Guaranteed in the Libertadores semifinals, Internacional now awaits its opponent. And the rival can be a Brazilian. That’s because Olimpia x Fluminense duel on the other side of the key and Tricolor has an advantage on the aggregate score, as it won at Maracanã by 2-0.
For having had a better campaign in the group stage, Olimpia will decide the knockout at home against Flu. The teams face each other this Thursday (31), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium, in Asuncion, Paraguay.
Inter’s next matches
- Goiás x Internacional – Brazilian Championship – Serrinha – Saturday (9/2), at 4 pm (Brasília time);
- Internacional x São Paulo – Brazilian Championship – Beira-Rio – Wednesday (9/13), at 21:30 (Brasília time);
- Athletico-PR x Internacional – Brazilian Championship – Ligga Arena – Thursday (9/21), at 7:30 pm (Brasília time)