Always Ready vs Mirassol – News and Probable Lineups

Mirassol is having one of the most impressive debut campaigns in recent Libertadores history and will aim to take a significant step toward the knockout stages when they meet Always Ready on Tuesday evening in the fifth round of the 2026 Copa Libertadores group phase.

The match, initially set to occur in El Alto, has been relocated to Asuncion, Paraguay, by CONMEBOL amidst the ongoing political and social turmoil in Bolivia, altering the dynamics of the fixture considerably.

Match overview

This change in venue has dominated discussions leading up to this crucial group stage clash, as Mirassol had prepared for one of the most challenging away games in South American football, only to learn on Sunday morning that the match would now take place in Paraguay.

For Rafael Guanaes and his team, this update is a significant relief, as the Brazilian side can now avoid the extreme fitness challenges associated with playing at altitude, a factor that typically makes Always Ready quite formidable on their home turf in continental tournaments.

Always Ready has publicly expressed its disappointment regarding this decision, admitting that losing the conditions found in El Alto eliminates their primary competitive advantage – historically, they have struggled significantly outside Bolivia in international matches and are still in search of their first continental victory away from home.

Julio Cesar Baldivieso’s team has been further handicapped this season due to the transfer of leading scorer Rodrigo Castillo to Fluminense earlier in the season. While experienced forward Triverio has stepped up to lead the attack, the squad has lacked the kind of scoring threat which Castillo provided.

Moreover, off-field issues in Bolivia have complicated their preparations, with protests and travel restrictions interrupting training routines in recent weeks, resulting in less than ideal conditions leading up to arguably their most crucial fixture of the group stage.

This situation is likely to be frustrating for Always Ready, as it could impact their momentum, especially after they recently achieved a 4-0 victory over Lanus, breaking a streak of three consecutive losses to kick off the tournament.

However, following that win, they have since drawn 0-0 against Independiente and suffered a 1-0 loss to The Strongest in their national league.

On the other hand, Mirassol continues to be one of the standout narratives in this season’s Libertadores – making their competitive debut, the Brazilian club has secured three victories from four matches and could mathematically ensure their advancement to the round of 16 with another win in this match.

Guanaes has effectively tailored his squad’s tactical approach for international play, having made them defensively more solid in the Libertadores, conceding only two goals across four matches, while remaining proactive when pressing their opponents high up the pitch.

Their commendable 2-0 victory over LDU in the last round underscored the team’s growing maturity, as Oliveira scored the first goal before Reinaldo converted a penalty in a heartfelt moment dedicated to his late mother.

However, domestically, things have been more challenging, as Mirassol finds itself in the relegation zone of the Brasileirao following a shaky start to the Serie A season, with physical fatigue becoming increasingly concerning due to the demanding schedule.

The Brazilian team competed away against Atletico Mineiro over the weekend, losing 3-1, and must now travel again just days later, prompting Guanaes to carefully manage his players’ fitness.

Nevertheless, the absence of altitude levels makes this match considerably more favorable than initially anticipated, particularly for a Mirassol side that has consistently shown a disciplined tactical performance in Libertadores matches.

Additionally, Mirassol brings with them the momentum from their earlier encounter in the group stage, during which they controlled significant portions of the game and displayed a solid defensive organization to claim a 2-0 victory.

Team News

Always Ready continues their search for offensive alternatives in light of Castillo’s exit, with Baldivieso likely to sustain the compact formation that has recently emphasized solid defensive organization over expansive attacking play.

Veteran goalkeeper Alain Baroja remains a key leader within the squad, while Fernando Saucedo and Hector Cuellar are anticipated to take on more responsibility in the midfield.

Mirassol will miss Igor Formiga, Negueba, and Igor Carius due to injuries, with Yuri Lara also a doubt.

Daniel Borges is expected to retain his position at right-back, while Lucas Oliveira is set to reinforce the defense again after his goal against LDU.

Guanaes is likely to maintain the attacking trio of Carlos Eduardo, Shaylon, and Everton Galdino behind Edson Carioca, though Alesson continues to be a valuable attacking option off the bench after making a strong impression earlier in the competition.

Always Ready probable starting XI:

Baroja; Hurtado, Gomez, Rambal, Suarez; Cuellar, Saucedo, Rodriguez; Amoroso, Triverio, Maraude.

Mirassol probable starting XI:

Walter; Borges, Oliveira, Machado, Reinaldo; Moura, Denilson, Shaylon; Carlos Eduardo, Carioca, Galdino.

The relocation to Paraguay notably alters the dynamics of this fixture. Absent the altitude of El Alto, Always Ready loses the advantage that traditionally compensates for their technical gaps against more robust adversaries.

Mirassol arrives not only physically worn, but they have also showcased extraordinary tactical organization throughout their Libertadores journey. Their defensive resilience, emotional fortitude, and capacity to adjust to challenging situations should empower the Brazilian team to take charge of the match and secure the victory necessary to achieve a historic progression to the knockout rounds.