Always Ready, the Bolivian team that plays its home games in El Alto at 4,150 meters above sea level, will have to play in Asunción, just 120 meters above sea level, to face Mirassol on Tuesday. The change was ordered by Conmebol due to the protests and blockades affecting the department of La Paz, where Bolivia's government and legislative seats are located.
Always Ready's squad, led by Argentine coach Marcelo Straccia, faced difficulties even getting to the airport: they had to walk through a tollbooth on the main highway linking El Alto to La Paz, which was blocked by protesters. Last Thursday, the team lost 1-0 to The Strongest in a match held at the Municipal Stadium in El Alto despite unrest in nearby areas. The game against Real Oruro, scheduled for the weekend, was postponed.
For the match against Mirassol, Always Ready will be without Ecuadorian defender Luis Caicedo, who terminated his contract with the club. The rest of the squad is available.
Mirassol, meanwhile, comes off a 3-1 loss to Atlético Mineiro, a result that keeps them in 19th place in the Brazilian Championship with 13 points from 15 games, just four points ahead of last-place Chapecoense. Despite their poor domestic form, the Brazilian team leads Group G of the Libertadores with 9 points, followed by Lanús and Liga de Quito, both with 6, while Always Ready has 3 points.
The change of venue also forced Mirassol to alter its logistics: the initial plan was to travel to Santa Cruz in eastern Bolivia and then head to El Alto on the same day to avoid the effects of altitude. In the final round of the group stage on May 26, Always Ready visits Liga de Quito, and Lanús hosts Mirassol.