SA+Copa Libertadores 1/4 Finals Leg.#1 15-17 May 07

[junkyardog]

15-05-07
Cúcuta Deportivo (COL) - Nacional (URU)

16-05-07
Santos FC (BRA) - CF América (MEX)

Defensor Sporting (URU) - Grêmio (BRA)

17-05-07
Libertad (PAR) - Boca Juniors (ARG)

[igor5]

Copa Libertadores

16-05-04:00 Cucuta Deportivo - Nacional Montevideo 1.85 3.40 4.55
17-05-01:30 Defensor Sporting Montevideo - Gremio 2.35 3.30 2.85
17-05-02:45 America Ciudad de Mexico - Santos 2.20 3.25 3.50
18-05-02:15 Boca Juniors - Libertad 1.55 3.75 6.50

Betbase

Brazil - Cup
Figueirense FC SC - Botafogo FR RJ Thu 2.20 3.25 3.00
Fluminense FC RJ - Brasiliense DF Thu 1.57 3.60 5.75

Chile
Universidad de Chile - Audax Italiano Thu 1.90 3.25 3.65

Colombia
Atletico Nacional Medellin - Boyaca Chico Thu 1.40 4.00 7.00
Deportivo Cali - Independiente Santa Fe Thu 1.55 3.50 5.50
Millonarios Bogota - Atletico Huila Thu 1.50 3.60 6.00

Mexico - Playoff
Cruz Azul de Mexico - Pachuca CF Thu 2.40 3.20 2.60

Peru
Sport Ancash - Melgar FBC Arequipa Wed 1.80 3.25 4.00

[Monty H.]

The fact that Nacional managed to actually win the away match at Necaxa, means theyre a very orgenized side with enough experience to overcome against the odds.. which makes them favorites in my view to get through to the semis..
Nacional 0.5+

[Monty H.]

So far ive only seen Boca and Santos play in the Copa, Boca are allways playing "in the zone" and have a way about them like an aura of confidence that surrounds them and is inspired by Juan Roman..

Santos are the only side that (as far as i can see) can beat any European side, they have such great players with incredible high level of ball control.. the highest ive seen in a S. american side ever, but their not "in the zone" for large parts of the game (mostly in attack) and in defending arnt half as aggressive enough as they should be. you feel as if theyre trying to proove how good they are (and they are) by dribbling through the center of the defence all the way to the goal.. not enough crosses, the ball is allways on the ground and its not going to work every time IMO..

[Energoto]

Originally Posted by Monty H.

The fact that Nacional managed to actually win the away match at Necaxa, means theyre a very orgenized side with enough experience to overcome against the odds.. which makes them favorites in my view to get through to the semis..
Nacional 0.5+

This result was a bit lucky for Nacional, Necaxa were all over them for most of the match, but they failed to convert their chances into goals. Anyway the uruguayan are a decent side and they can snatch point(s) here, Cucuta are nothing special IMO.

[igor5]

Newcomer Cucuta hosts Nacional looking for another Copa Libertadores upset

SAO PAULO, Brazil: Surprising Cucuta Deportivo of Colombia will try to keep its momentum going in the Copa Libertadores when it hosts Uruguay's Nacional in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, powerhouses Santos of Brazil and America of Mexico face off in Mexico City, while Uruguay's Defensor Sporting plays Brazil's Gremio in Montevideo. Five-time champion Boca Juniors of Argentina faces Paraguay's Libertad on Thursday in Buenos Aires.

Cucuta, playing in the Latin American club championship for the first time, already has eliminated some traditionally strong clubs en route to the quarterfinals, including Paraguay's Cerro Porteno and Mexico's Toluca.

Cucuta routed Toluca 5-1 in the second round's first leg, advancing 5-3 on aggregate after a 2-0 loss in the return match — the team's only setback in four matches.

Cucuta rallied from a difficult start, however, going winless in its first four matches before advancing from the group stage with a 4-3 last-round victory over local rival Deportes Tolima. Both Tolima and Cerro Porteno were eliminated in the group, with Gremio advancing as the group winner.

Cucuta will now host three-time Copa Libertadores champion Nacional, which is playing in the competition for the 32nd time.

"Cucuta will need a great effort to beat Nacional," Cucuta's coach Jorge Luis Bernal said.

Nacional finished second in Group 4 — behind Argentina's Velez Sarsfield and ahead of defending champion Internacional of Brazil — then eliminated Mexico's Necaxa 4-2 on aggregate in the second round.

Nacional coach Daniel Carreno expected a "very even" series.

"It won't be decided in Tuesday's match," he said.

Nacional hasn't won the Copa Libertadores since 1988, when it beat Argentina's Newell's Old Boys in the finals.

On Wednesday, two-time champion Santos will play at America in one of the key matchups of the quarterfinals.

Both teams had to go through the competition's preliminary phase, with Santos eliminating Bolivia's Blooming and America beating Peru's Sporting Cristal.

The Brazilians, seeking their first Copa Libertadores title since consecutive championships in 1962 and 1963 when Pele played for the side, are slight favorites after having won nine of 10 matches in this year's tournament. The club had the first stage's best campaign among all 32 teams.

Also Wednesday, Brazil's Gremio — another two-time Copa Libertadores champion — faces Defensor Sporting in Uruguay hoping to rebound from a 3-0 loss to Parana in the opener of the Brazilian league over the weekend.

On Thursday, Boca Juniors — which eliminated local rival Velez Sarsfield in the round of 16 — hosts Paraguay's Libertad, which last year lost to eventual champion Internacional in the semifinals.

Boca Juniors has won the Copa Libertadores title three of the last seven years.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/...es-Preview.php

[Monty H.]

2-0 to Cucuta, this complicates things for Nacional, its not over yet but it will be incredibly hard for them now..

Originally Posted by Monty H.

The fact that Nacional managed to actually win the away match at Necaxa, means theyre a very orgenized side with enough experience to overcome against the odds.. which makes them favorites in my view to get through to the semis..
Nacional 0.5+

[Monty H.]

Goals in the air in Mexico
Mexico City plays host to the week's most eagerly awaited encounter as home favourites America and in-form Santos meet. The duo have outscored everyone else in this year's Copa and also boast the competition's two leading goalscorers in their ranks

http://www.fifa.com/en/comp/index/0,...ticleid=137711

Anyone for overs here? still well priced..

[Energoto]

Originally Posted by Monty H.

http://www.fifa.com/en/comp/index/0,...ticleid=137711

Anyone for overs here? still well priced..

lol this was the most boring match I've ever seen

I'll be on Boca tonight, high stakes. At this stage of the tournament favorites like Boca can't afford wrong steps and considering their struggling on the road, I think they will try to finish the job tonight, or at least to take a decent advantage. Of course Libertad can't be underestimated, they will play defensively tonight, but they will need something more to avoid the defeat.
Full preview on my blog.
Best Regards

[Monty H.]

Cheers Energoto, but i cant believe that Libertad will play defensively, they have been getting good results away from home and the odds on Boca win are rather small so maybe overs is the bet to go with tonight?

[Energoto]

Originally Posted by Monty H.

Cheers Energoto, but i cant believe that Libertad will play defensively, they have been getting good results away from home and the odds on Boca win are rather small so maybe overs is the bet to go with tonight?

Libertad will play with only one forward and close order defensive line, but yes, over seems a good bet too. Libertad got good results on the road, but they havent faced a decent opponent IMO.
GL

[Energoto]

loool @ BOlloCA Juniors

[Monty H.]

Heh never mind Energoto, didnt watch it but from the stats theyve been most unlucky and to miss that penalty i mean for god sake.. suppose it was destined to be that Libertad scored a one in a.. shot from that free kick.. theyre still in it though imo, but their away form would have to improve for that and the only thing thats in their favore is Libertads poor performance at home.. three possible outcomes for the second leg imo 1-1 or 2-1 Libertad..
maybe 2-2..

[Energoto]

Originally Posted by Monty H.

Heh never mind Energoto, didnt watch it but from the stats theyve been most unlucky and to miss that penalty i mean for god sake.. suppose it was destined to be that Libertad scored a one in a.. shot from that free kick.. theyre still in it though imo, but their away form would have to improve for that and the only thing thats in their favore is Libertads poor performance at home.. three possible outcomes for the second leg imo 1-1 or 2-1 Libertad..
maybe 2-2..

and also there was a goal disallowed for Boca, clear non offside