The Big 5 and the Libertadores 2009 (R)

[vipnerd]

What is the incentive to play these latter games of the Apertura 07? Some teams are thinking of their average in order to remain in 1st division ... but others, specially the Big 5 should have a closer look at what is at hand if they intend to qualify to the Libertadores 2009.

As you know, there is a change in the way to qualify to the Libertadores 2009. The 3 champions of: the Apertura 07, Clausura 08 and Apertura 08 qualify directly to the Libertaodres 2009. If they are all different teams, the other 2 that qualify are the two with the highest points in those 3 tournaments. Unless there is an argentine champion once again in Libertadores 2008, which would qualify the champion to the 2009 edition ... it would once again add a 6th spot.

Since the Apertura 07 is in hands of either Lanus or Tigre, there are only 2 tournaments left to qualify directly and/or add those points. This means that if and only if there is an argentine team champion of the Libertadores 2008, one of the BIG 5 will already be out of the Libertadores 2009.

After today's results, River, San Lorenzo and Racing continued with their irregular campaigns and are losing terrain in this race for the cup. With the added need that Racing has for points to stay in the top flight.

At least, most clubs have had irregular campaigns and haven't gained that many points. But the fans can't be happy with the campaigns of their clubs. With this change of rules for the qualifying of the Libertadores 2009, there is no space to throw away points.


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[Andrés_]

Have to add that they will count the points of 3 tournaments ONLY for 2009, for 2010 they will count the points of the Clausura 08/09 and Apertura 09/10, this means they will count the points of the 2nd half of a season and the 1st half of the following season, which is kinda messed up seeing the issue of the relegated and promoted teams, though it's said that they will count double the points of the recently promoted teams, however i don't think it's fair to give the chance a team that was playing just 6 months on the 1st division rather than a team that was playing for a whole season. Also i'm thinking if it isn't the time to change the schedule of the seasons in Argentina instead of having it from September to June why not have it from March to December instead, like the majority of the countries in the region.

[golazo26]

Can anyone post which teams are competing in Libertadores '08? I know San Lorenzo and Estudiantes are going as the last two champions. I presume Boca is the third team based on their point totals. Do Lanus get a spot as the champions this term? Which other teams have qualified/are in the running to qualify?

[vipnerd]

Can anyone post which teams are competing in Libertadores '08? I know San Lorenzo and Estudiantes are going as the last two champions. I presume Boca is the third team based on their point totals. Do Lanus get a spot as the champions this term? Which other teams have qualified/are in the running to qualify?

Boca Jrs (Libertadores 07 champ)
Estudiantes (AP06 champ)
San Lorenzo (CL07 champ)
River Plate (most points)
Arsenal (2nd most points --- repechaje of Libertadores)
Lanus (3rd most points --- repechaje of libertadores) --> only because Boca won Libertadores 06


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[bosterosoy]

Since the Apertura 07 is in hands of either Lanus or Tigre, there are only 2 tournaments left to qualify directly and/or add those points. This means that if and only if there is an argentine team champion of the Libertadores 2008, one of the BIG 5 will already be out of the Libertadores 2009.

You'd have to be kidding yourself if you thought that the entire Big 5 would make it in the first place.

River is struggling big time.
San Lorenzo had a good campaign last time but they are not the same team
Racing is a joke
and it was only a matter of time before Independiente fell out of the title race

[vipnerd]

You'd have to be kidding yourself if you thought that the entire Big 5 would make it in the first place.

River is struggling big time.
San Lorenzo had a good campaign last time but they are not the same team
Racing is a joke
and it was only a matter of time before Independiente fell out of the title race


Are you missing the point on purpose?

Being the Big 5 the ones with the most fans ... it is meant to explain the importance of these end of tournament games in regards to the unique way to qualify for Libertadores 2009. :rolleyes: Neither Independiente nor Racing have qualifed to the last editions of the Libertadores ...

These games lost to Colon at home and Olimpo could haunt River in December 2008 when, if they don't win a title they would need to be one of the top 2 with the most points that aren't champs. The same can be said of Racing ... or San Lorenzo ... and to a lesser extent for Independiente and Boca.

Estudiantes certainly is playing for that.

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[Andrés_]

it was only a matter of time before Independiente fell out of the title race

Yeah too bad it took 17 matches for that to happen(seeing that was when 90% of the Apertura was played and that was when we lost any mathematical chance for the championship). At least out top scorer didn't make it public that in the following months the team will have to fight to escape from relegation.:p

[bosterosoy]

dont kid yourself, you were out of the race before fecha 17. the last 6 games independiente has been awful

[Andrés_]

Yes probably the loss against Newell's meant the ending of the Apertura for us but like we still could remain near the top even if we didn't get the championship, which would've given us a direct spot on the cups.

Apparently for the Libertadores 2010 cup they'll come up with some kind of average table... that average would come from the Clausura 2008/09 and Apertura 2009/10. Of course for the Sudamericana they'll keep using the "season table" of course this doesn't affect Boca or River since they are always invited regardless their placement. No idea why but other than it'll be a bit complicated to know who's getting qualified or not. I insist that maybe it's time to change the calendar of the season, as pretending to change the calendar of the Libertadores would be a lot more complicated. Let's see if the CONMEBOL brings on this issue in the meeting of the 18th.

[bosterosoy]

i actually think that they are finally getting it right. the way AFA did the qualifying was ridiculous and we got teams like Gimnasia qualifying but playing in hte Libertadores 1 year later when their team absolutely sucked and they were a disgrace representing Argentina