Recoleta, a club that has spent most of its existence in the lower divisions, is one win away from a place in the Copa Paraguay final and a Copa Libertadores berth. The semifinal against Libertad takes place at La Arboleda in Rubio Ñu, kicking off at 18:00 local time.
A prize beyond the trophy
Winning the Copa Paraguay carries a Libertadores spot and a cash reward of 1,000,000,000 guaraníes. For Recoleta, who have had only three top-flight seasons across two spells, the tie is a significant opportunity, and a victory would put the club within reach of the continental stage.
The lineup
Coach Jorge González Frutos has settled on his starting eleven: Óscar Toledo; Claudio Figueredo, Nicolás Marotta, Marcos Pereira and Pedro Ríos; Ronal Domínguez, Claudio Garay and Juan Alexander Franco; Aldo Walmor González and Brahian Vidal Ferreira; and Renzo Martino up front.
Path to the semifinal
Recoleta have reached this stage with wins over Deportivo Santaní, Guaireña and Sportivo Luqueño. Libertad, the most decorated side in the tie, are the opponent Recoleta have not beaten this season: they lost all three of their league meetings with them, so a result here would also end that run.
The other semifinal
The second last-four tie pits Cerro Porteño against Sol de América on Sunday at the 12 de Octubre stadium in Itauguá, also at 18:00.
Source: www.abc.com.py
