Copa Libertadores 2012 - SEMIFINALES

Reporting on the Universidad de Chile front:

Bad news:
- Captain Rojas has picked up an injury in the match against Venezuela that could leave him out for the first leg match against Boca.

Good news:
- Ecuadorian defender Morante and one of the key signings for La U, has made full recovery and is ready to play against Boca should we need him.
- Universidad de Chile have completed the transfer of leading Chilean goalscorer Ubilla and is ready to play against Boca.
- Universidad de Chile players Diaz and Aranguiz played particularly well against Bolivia and Venezuela. Aranguiz scored against both teams, we can only hope he takes his good form to Buenos Aires.

 

When Man U buy Angelo Henriquez, will he leave before the series is over with Boca or after? orr during?

 

I think that's just the English press talking out of their ass, nothing official as of yet, plus Man U still has another year or so to make use of the first bid option, I don't see why they would hurry. It's best for Angelo if stays for at least 1 year here... he's only starting and La U is competing in everything this year.

 

Hope its bs, he should stay.

 

Would like to see him at Dortmund if he has to leave tbh.

 

Id rather see him leave fully developed and for a much, much higher price. Man U have the first take on him for about 3 milliones Euros, but if other teams offer more then they have to offer just as much.

 

For la U, the only one in doubt is the team captain, Jose Rojas.

 

I imagine the Boca Jrs vs. Universidade de Chile games will be epic not only because of the amazing soccer La U has shown as well as the tradition Boca brings, but because of the Argentina vs Chile rivalry factor. As I watch CONMEBOL soccer, I see that there is what I consider an "underrated" rivalry between these two countries.

However, short of bench-clearing brawls, there absolutely will not be enough bad blood to compare to the trash talk and hostility that will characterize the Santos vs. Corinthians semifinals. In the city of São Paulo, Palmeiras and São Paulo fans absolutely despise Corinthians (and the biggest rivalry is Palmeiras vs. Corinthians). Palmeiras vs. São Paulo, São Paulo vs. Santos and Palmeiras vs. Santos matches are also tense and the cops have plenty of work to keep the peace. But Santos has a peculiar rivalry with Corinthians given it is a club located outside the city. There is tons of history between the two - and Santos fans have already begun to harass Corinthians, as Corinthians players trained in Vila Belmiro tonight. There was booing and fireworks were popped to distract them.

I speculate Corinthians fans will do same to Santos in the return leg at Pacaembu Stadium, but Santos doesn't view Pacaembu as hostile territory - Santos did in fact win the 2011 Libertadores title there. This will be a hard-fought, physical, and probably bitter two-leg decision, which is always the case in the Libertadores when two teams from the same country meet. The rivalry factor is heightened.

 

That riot in 1991 was horrible. Having said that, Colo Colo's bus somehow got "lost" en route to your team's stadium and wonder of wonders, it ended up at a location where your team's fans happened to be - and they warmly welcomed the Chilean delegation with stones and other objects. It's not as if the Chileans had no reason to be just a bit feisty to your side in Santiago. That's why Santos was so furious at Bolivar a few weeks ago, but rather than using violence or other off-the-pitch antics, Santos responded with futebol.

I hope to watch an outstanding match with great soccer tomorrow, and not a war (and tonight as well).

 

I expect a disciplined match on and off the pitch, you can't go around kicking everyone in a semi-final, your fans would never forgive the player that left their team with 10 men.

 

Please Santos, make a two or three goals advantage today. I don't want Corinthians to represent Brazil in the final.

 

Looks like Rojas and Lorenzetti are good to go... let's do this!

 

Well played good sir. I hope our journey doesn't end the same way... let this bohemian journeyman go all the way.