Fortaleza and Vélez Sarsfield settle for a 0-0 draw in Libertadores Round of 16 first leg
Summary: Fortaleza and Vélez Sarsfield played to a goalless stalemate in the first leg of the 2025 CONMEBOL Libertadores Round of 16, leaving the tie wide open ahead of the return in Argentina.
Fortaleza’s Arena Castelão hosted a tense 0-0 draw with Vélez Sarsfield on Tuesday, as the first leg of the Libertadores Round of 16 got underway. The match wasted little time in delivering chances, with Braian Romero testing the home side’s goalkeeper early, around the ninth minute, only for the Brazilian shot-stopper to be equal to the task.
Fortaleza’s own goalie, Laion, was also called into action, denying Carrizo’s attempt and a dangerous header from Mammana. The best moment for Tricolor do Pici came when Breno Lopes fired a shot that was blocked and darted behind for a corner by Marchiori.
After the break, Fortaleza pushed to control more of the Argentine half, but clear-cut opportunities remained scarce as Vélez defended doggedly. The decisive moment came in the final minutes when Matheus Rossetto committed a hard foul, earned a second yellow card, and saw red, leaving Fortaleza a man down for the remainder of the match and complicating their path in the return leg.
What’s next
– The second leg will be played next Tuesday in Argentina. If the score is tied again on aggregate, the tie will be decided by penalties.
– Before that, Fortaleza returns to Brasileirão action on Saturday, traveling to Fluminense at the Maracanã for the 20th round.
Additional context and implications
– The draw keeps Fortaleza competitive on home soil, with a clean sheet and an away goals scenario not explicitly used here, meaning the tie could hinge on the return leg in Buenos Aires.
– The red card to Matheus Rossetto is a setback for Fortaleza, but the team still has a realistic path to progress by securing a favorable result in the decisive away leg.
Potential positives and outlook
– Fortaleza can take confidence from limiting Vélez to few chances and believing they can strike on the road in the second leg.
– The clash sets up a high-stakes rematch where a disciplined performance and a goal from Fortaleza could tip the balance in their favor.
If you’d like, I can add a concise match recap box, key stat highlights, or a brief player-by-player note for a deeper post.