This Tuesday, Racing Club made it clear why they are the reigning Copa Sudamericana champions by defeating Fortaleza 0-3 in their group stage debut in the Copa Libertadores. The match, played at the Castelão Stadium in Fortaleza, was a true exhibition by the Argentinians, who now lead Group E after this impressive victory.

Racing Thrashes Fortaleza in Libertadores Debut

The match began with frenetic pace, as both teams showed their desire to take control of the ball from the outset. Just two minutes in, both Pikachu for Fortaleza and Martínez for Racing came close to scoring, but their shots narrowly missed the target.

Despite the early push, the first goal came in the 26th minute when Racing took advantage of a mistake in the Brazilian defense. A perfectly executed corner kick allowed Salas to be completely unmarked inside the box, and he made no mistake, putting his team ahead with a close-range strike.

Instead of reacting, Fortaleza started to lose steam and could not stop the constant attacks from Racing, who came close to extending their lead on several occasions due to defensive errors from the home team. As the first half came to a close, the Brazilian side found themselves completely outplayed.

In the second half, Racing showed no mercy. Just two minutes after the restart, Almendra extended the lead with a goal that left goalkeeper João Ricardo with no chance. In an attempt to turn things around, Vojvoda made changes, bringing on Pochettino and Moisés to generate offensive pressure. However, the Argentine team remained unstoppable.

The final blow came in the 72nd minute when Sosa sealed the 3-0 victory for the visitors. The scoreline could have been even more lopsided if not for some crucial saves by João Ricardo, who spared Fortaleza from an even heavier defeat.

A Fantastic Start for Racing in the Copa Libertadores

With this win, Racing sits at the top of Group E with three points, while Atlético Bucaramanga and Colo Colo drew in their match. On the other hand, Fortaleza, who came into the game as leaders of the Campeonato Brasileño, now face the challenge of reassessing their strategy after this decisive setback.

Under the management of Gustavo Costas, Racing showed their quality and determination, proving that after their success in the Copa Sudamericana, they remain a strong contender in the Copa Libertadores. With this impressive start, Racing aims to continue advancing in the tournament and solidify their reputation as one of the most dangerous teams in the competition.