Copa Libertadores 2014

They are the defending champions of your country's league. They may not be a powerhouse team, but it wouldn't reflect well on your league if they're eliminated in the group stage.

Cruzeiro is the defending champion of my country's league, and yesterday they conceded a last-minute tying goal that may have doomed them to elimination. Now Cruzeiro must win at La U in Chile, defeat Real Garcilaso in Brazil, and even these 6 points may not be enough to get them to the round of 16. It wouldn't be a good representation of Brazil's domestic league if the last team to win the Brazilian premiership fell in the group stage.

(Although the Cruzeiro of the end of 2013 was far superior to the San Lorenzo of the final months of last year.)

 

Cruzeiro won a league. This is a Cup. Different mindsets. Leagues award consistency over many games. Cups award heroic deeds in few games.

It´s the same thing as São Paulo, Inter and Corinthians winning over Liverpool, Barça and Chelsea. It´s a CUP. If they played the english and spanish leagues, they would not qualify in the top 8.

 

Leagues and cups are indeed different, but Cruzeiro is still representing Brazil as its champion. Cruzeiro, furthermore, has plenty of veterans on its roster - I for one couldn't believe that someone like Dagoberto was so volatile last night. And in San Lorenzo's case, they only won its league by a meager 2 points over the next 3 teams and 3 over the 5th place team, and San Lorenzo did not defeat any of those teams. This shows that San Lorenzo was a very unimpressive team as a league winner, and its lack of quality is showing against a group that is far from this Copa's hardest.

Cruzeiro has the talent to go far in this Libertadores. Yesterday however it displayed its lack of self-control (something I said Botafogo has to work on).

 

Vos conocés la tradición copera del cuervo...?

 

Why is it always about mentality and garra with you? Of course they matter but Cruizeiro has been weak tactically on defense for a while now and Botafogo sucks ass and has no continuity.

 

Because the way players approach psychology and emotional self-control can mean victory or defeat. Anybody with a cursory grasp of the history of the Libertadores would know that a favorite tactic by certain players is to provoke opponents to get them angry, so they are red-carded.

Cruzeiro is far superior to Defensor Sporting, but the latter was smart and played in such a way to destabilize Cruzeiro. The same thing was seen when Tigre provoked L. Fabiano in the first leg of the 2012 Copa Sul-Americana finals. SPFC ultimately prevailed, but it wasn't easy with their main striker out.

And by the way, you may wish to pay attention to the teams' names. I am well-aware you're not Brazilian, that you're not fluent in the Portuguese language, and that words in Portuguese and most probably in Spanish may be confusing to you. But three times already, you've spelled Cruzeiro as "Cruizeiro."

Thanks to me, you won't misspell this team's name any further.

 

Thank god Big Soccer has you. Guess all the brazilian sides lost due to Garra, great analysis as usual. If you watched Cruizeiro you could obviously see they had defensive frailties and bad tactics on defense. Tactics can beat better players that was my point. Didn't read the rest of your long post dedicated to me.

 

Cute. I see you edited your post - I didn't mean to make you feel stupid, kiddo. Weird that you've spent all that time in Brazil and you still can't spell. Have a good weekend.

 

So with this being the start Jornada 5 we should be seeing a few clubs qualify for the Octavos.
Anyone know which clubs can end this week with their spot confirmed?

 

Group 1:
Winner of Paranaense-Velez goes through.
Universitario already eliminated.

Group 2:
Group too close to call yet.

Group 3:
A win by Cerro Porteño sees them through.
A loss eliminates Lanus if paired with a non-tie in the Cali-O'Higgins match.

Group 4:
A loss by Zamora eliminates them.

Group 6:
If Newell's loses, they cannot win the group.
Nacional (U) already eliminated.

Group7:
Leon is through with a win, since Emelec still has to play Flamengo at home.

Group 8:
Santos is through with a tie. Wins group with a win.
Arsenal is through if they win and Peñarol doesn't.

 

If Atletico Mineiro ties they go through as well.

 

For Group 1, even if Atlético Paranaense defeats Vélez Sarsfield this week, I view Vélez Sarsfield as the likely group winner because in its final match, it hosts the already eliminated Universitario, whereas Atlético Paranaense visits The Strongest in Bolivia, where it is very likely to lose. Atlético Paranaense must win this week so that it can "afford" to lose 3 points in Bolivia and not be concerned with the Vélez Sarsfield-The Strongest match. If Vélez Sarsfield wins this week, all pressure will be on Atlético Paranaense - a dangerous scenario.

Looking at Groups 2 and 5, I didn't expect that the champions of both Argentina and Brazil might be out after the first round, although San Lorenzo was an unimpressive champion whereas Cruzeiro was a high-octane machine. I predict CASLA loses this week.

And I'll make a call here and now that Lanús won't make it the round of 16.

 

The most 'even' Libertadores in a long time. With nearly 70% of the group phase games played, only TWO clubs are out: Universitario (PER) and Nacional (URU). Also, no team has qualified 'for sure' yet --Santos may be the first in a few hours.

 

Hope Santos Doesnt Fall After The World Cup...
Saying This I Do Think Santos Has What It Takes To Go For The Semis

 

Darwin is looking like a true maestro out there.

 

Santos Laguna ... gotta keep an eye on them.

 

Peñarol eliminated tonight by virtue of Arsenal's win in Venezuela. Crosstown rival Nacional was already out, playing for pride, but with two silly red cards, Newell's Old Boys has easily turned a 2-2 draw into a 2-4 win. What a forlorn way for Nacional to play its last home game in the Libertadores, and they'll probably suffer another defeat next week when they visit Grêmio.

As for Peñarol, at least they won one match. Nacional won none.

Defensor Sporting now alone in representing Uruguay.

 

Why isnt Danubio in Copa Libertadores?
Werent they campeones?

 

Not so fast my friend.
1-1 in Cali.