Boca plays Newells at la Bombonera for the opening leg of the quarterfinals. VS Thursday May 23 21:30 (Hora Argentina) Stadium: Boca Juniors Ref: Mauro Vigilano VAMOS BOCA!!!
So surely boca should be seeded higher than newells and have advantage of playing the second game at home? Its just really annoying that boca never seems to have that advantage
The teams are seeded based on how they finished in their respective groups. Boca and Newells both finished 2nd in their group and had the same number of points. But Newells is seeded higher because of a better goal difference...by one goal.
And they deserve that higher seeding as well ... Gonna be fun Thursday night, who knows what to expect from Boca. What bothers me is the 3 games in a row during the course of a week.
Yeah, by just one goal. I suppose every goal counts in La Copa. Looking ahead, the winner of this series has the following possibilities: 1) If Tijuana beats Atletico Mineiro, it would play Boca or Newells in the next round. That's true regardless of any other scenario. 2) If Atletico Mineiro beats Tijuana, it would play Boca or Newells in the next round, unless... 3) If Fluminense beats Olimpia, and both Brazilian teams advance, then the two Brazilian teams would face each other, and Boca or Newells would play the winner of Real Garcilaso vs Independiente Santa Fe. So, lots of options, thanks to the obtuse rules.
Playing at home, it looks like Bianchi will change the 4-4-1-1 formation he used in Brazil against Corinthians, back to the more aggressive 4-3-1-2. The only change would be Burrito Martinez as forward in place of Sanchez Miño. Riquelme is healthy and will be the enganche. Erviti and Blandi are recovering from minor ailments and will most likely play. Probable starting lineup (4-3-1-2): VAMOS BOCA!!!
If I were to bet on the games I'd say Mineiro, Flu, and Santa Fe win, leaving the winner of this against Santa Fe. That to me seems most practical. Logic would have Newells winning this because they have a great squad, but pregame logic doesn't get you far. Weird part is the only one ill be emotionally invested in is the shitty one on Sunday. They should both be great games though.
I would much rather see Erbes take Somoza's place, and slotting JSM into his place. Although I will admit there is a certain appeal about the possibility of bringing JSM off the bench, as needed. So, here's a question... Has Bianchi pretty much written off Silva (and Viatri to a lesser extent)? Not that I have anything against Blandi, but he's not most convincing to me. Beast in the air, but I can think of two major missed opportunities he had in the last match...gotta put away at least one of them.
When Bianchi came, it seemed like the striker pecking order was 1.Silva 2.Viatri 3.Blandi. Bianchi reportedly even spoke to Blandi and told him that he was not in the plans and would be welcome to look for alternatives if he chose to. However, because of how they've played -and I presume also based on how they do in practice- it seems like Bianchi now turned it around. 1.Blandi 2.Viatri, 3.Silva. Seems like Bianchi lost confidence in Silva. I think it's not so much that Blandi has been great, but that Silva and Viatri have been disappointing so far. But Blandi has been decent enough, in my view, compared to the other two. He's missed some chances, but he does seem to be putting himself in better position and getting more chances than the other two. It appears that now it's his job to lose.
Blandi misses a lot of chances, but then out of the blue he scores two goals, or grabs a last minute winner. Silva hasnt been brilliant but his goal record isnt too shabby, id play silva ahead of viatri who is just awful right now.mi wanted it to work with viatri after he waiting so long being palermos understudy but its clear now that it isnt going to work. Wheres palacios? Havent heard much of him recently. Its 2045 here so time to get some sleep, wake up at 0130 and then stay up and go to work. ITS ZOMBIE TIME!
You're right on the money. I'm just at a complete loss as to how Silva could have shown so little. Viatri was just beginning to hit his strides, I think, when he got hurt last year. He's just never recovered what he had going.
Great! Looks like FSC won't be showing this match until tomorrow, electing to go with the Tijuana match of course. Time to hit the steams.
That sucks but I guess for FSC it makes sense. Mexican team playing will probably get them some more viewers than two Argentine clubs even if one is El Rey in Boca and the other un equipo chico (waits for cigar city). Hopefully the streams won't be crap.
Good first half performance.We just need that bit of quality in the final third.We are controlling the game well.
Agreed but you HAVE to get a goal there. You can't expect Newells to look that out of sorts for a full 90 minutes, although most of the credit goes to what Boca was doing to them.
Yeah always worrying when you don't punish a team when you have the chance.10 mins into the 2nd half and Newells are playing better.
Yup... Blandi straight at the keeper...and now Martinez straight at the keeper. In other news, surprisingly, Somoza is having a PARTIDAZO!!! Shows how much I know for not wanting him in the starting lineup
Yeah Somoza is playing really well surprisingly!Orion brilliant as usual with a great save! Roman is not really featuring 2nd half lets hope he can summon up one bit of energy for a moment of magic!
Scocco had not done much, but in just that one play, he tells you all you need to know about his worth as a player.