The cross between candidates Corinthians-Boca Juniorsthe one from Cerro Porteño against the two-time champion Palmeiras and the Argentine key between River and Vélez give it flight and fill the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores-2022 that begin this week with anxiety.
Without clear favorites in any of the eight duels, Palmeiras, the reigning champion, will, however, visit Paraguayan Cerro Porteño in great form, on Wednesday in the first leg of the key in Asunción.
The ‘Verdão’, ranked first in the group stage of the Libertadores, leads the Brazilian tournament based on an almost unbeatable defensive line that has conceded just 8 goals in the 13 games played in the competition.
The team from São Paulo threatens to win the Libertadores for the third successive time, a victory that has only been won so far by the Argentines Independiente (4 in a row) and Estudiantes (3). Corinthians and Boca also reach the round of 16 on the rise, although the Argentine team lost the last date against Unión, but played with a majority of substitutes.
The Xeneize cleared doubts after a negative period of their inexperienced coach Sebastián Battaglia and achieved a performance that brings smiles to their demanding fans, obsessed with winning the seventh Libertadores title and equaling Independiente as the most winner of the continental competition.
But it will not be easy for Boca when they visit Sao Paulo’s Arena Corinthians on Tuesday. Corinthians is the pursuer of Palmeiras in the Brasileirao and seeks to be an actor in the hegemony of the teams from his country in the Libertadores, which together have won four of the last five titles.
The ‘Mengão’ seeks to redeem himself
On the other hand, the popular Flamengo, finalist in the last edition of the Libertadores, has been accumulating disappointments lately. Its star, striker Bruno Henrique, suffered a severe ligament injury that will leave him out of the court for at least 10 months, and Everton ‘Cebolinha’, hired as his successor, will only be able to debut on July 18, so will miss the eighth of the Libertadores.
Also recently signed by ‘Mengão’, coach Dorival Junior will be on the bench against Deportes Tolima on Wednesday with the goal of lifting the spirits of a team in the doldrums, which won the weekend 3-0 against Atlético Mineiro, but continues to navigate in the middle of the table in the Brasileirao.
The Colombian Tolima, one of the surprises classified to the second round, can strike at home on Wednesday if he takes advantage of the loss of form of the Rio de Janeiro teambefore the rematch on July 6 at the Maracana.
In one of the two exclusively Argentine keys, River appears in the papers as the candidate to qualify for the quarterfinals against Vélez, but nobody dares to sign it. Marcelo Gallardo’s powerful team achieved a tight 2-1 victory against Lanús on Saturday in the Argentine tournament and is warming up for the duel with Vélez on Wednesday.
‘El Muñeco’ Gallardo will suffer a significant loss with the departure in July of his figure Julián Álvarez to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The 22-year-old made an impact less than a month ago by scoring six goals against Alianza Lima in the group stage, a record in the
Libertadores, before the gunpowder gets wet, although he has already returned to his rights.
Vélez, on his side, is rearming himself to compete in form in the Libertadores and raise his head in the local tournament. A first step was the signing of the experienced central defender and captain of the Uruguayan national team, Diego Godín.
other duels
In the other Argentine crossing, Talleres against Colón, nobody could seriously bet on any of them. The parity is almost total between two teams that in recent years have competed as equals with the greats of Argentine football.
Atlético Mineiro, another of the contenders, should not neglect Ecuador’s Emelec, who had a solid group stage and will fight relentlessly in the round of 16, an instance that is completed with the cross between the inexperienced Fortaleza against the historic Estudiantes, and Athletico Paranaense, champion of the South American, with the brave Libertad from Paraguay.
AFP
more sports news
#Copa #Libertadores #great #games #week