Cerro Porteño face Recoleta FC on Sunday in round 19 of the Paraguayan Clausura 2026 tournament, and coach Gustavo Costas will be missing two players. Defender Lucas Merolla and forward Ignacio Aliseda are both unavailable after injuries sustained in their last outing.
The Azulgrana are not fighting for the title, but they still have a place in the 2027 Copa Libertadores on the line through the cumulative table. If Olimpia win the championship again, Cerro Porteño would keep a mathematical chance of qualifying directly for the group stage. The match will be played at La Nueva Olla in Asunción.
Injuries keep duo out
Costas has yet to settle on his starting line-up, but he has confirmed the absences two days before kick-off. Both players missed Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Libertad at La Huerta in round 18.
Merolla and Aliseda last played in the Super Classic against Olimpia in round 17, a 2-0 defeat. Neither finished the game: Alexis Cañete came on for the defender at half-time, while Jonatan Torres replaced the forward in the second minute of added time.
Their season so far
Merolla, one of the signings made during the Ariel Holan era, has nine appearances this season. Eight came in the Clausura 2026, where he scored in the 3-0 win over Sportivo Luqueño, and one in the Copa Paraguay.
Aliseda has played 34 matches this campaign. Thirty were in league competition, where he has scored seven goals, one in the national cup and three in the 2026 Copa Libertadores.
Source: www.abc.com.py
