Delfín and Independiente del Valle will kick off the LigaPro. The duel will be played at 7:00 p.m., at the Jocay stadium.
The ‘rayada’ team, which has a renewed squad, starts as one of the favorites in the tournament.
Under the direction of Argentine coach Javier Gandolfi, who replaced Martín Anselmi, they are part of the group of clubs that are candidates for the season’s title.
After Anselmi’s departure, the new coaching staff has had to reinforce all the lines.
In 2023, Independiente won the first phase of the tournament, two dates before its culmination.
However, in the second they lost their way and had to play the final against Liga de Quito, with whom they lost the title in the penalty shootout.
LigaPro starts
Coach Gandolfi rebuilt the midfield in a special way, where he was left without Cristian Pellerano – now technical assistant – and Lorenzo Faravelli who went to Cruz Azul.
The ‘rayados’ made seven hires and twelve players left.
For Pellerano they hired midfielder Cristian Zabala, while Alexander Bolaños arrived for Faravelli.
Independiente also added Paraguayan defender Luis Zárate, who will replace Agustín García Basso.
In addition, Uruguayan forward Renzo López will occupy the position left by Marcelo Moreno Martins.
The most important signings made by the team led by Gandolfi have to do with the brothers Renato and Romario Ibarra, who are wingers with speed, dribbling and goals.
They would be in charge of the generation of offensive football. They will partner with Junior Sornoza and Kendry Páez.
Instead Dolphinwhich has hired 10 national and foreign players, will try to surprise from the start, because it will have the support of its fans.
This duel, in addition to being scored in the tournament, will serve as a test for those led by Guillermo Duró, who will face Deportivo Cuenca on March 6 in a single match for the Copa Sudamericana.