2016 Latin American Thread (incl Libertadores): VIVA FUTBOL!!!

[DoyleG]

2016 Copa Libertadores

Group 1
River Plate (ARG - Title Holders)
The Strongest (BOL)
Trujillanos (VEN)
Universidad César Vallejo (PER)/São Paulo (BRA)

Group 2
Nacional (URU)
Palmeiras (BRA)
Rosario Central (ARG)
River Plate (URU)/U de. Chile (CHI)

Group 3
Boca Juniors (ARG)
Bolivar (BOL)
Deportivo Cali (COL)
Puebla (MEX)/Racing (ARG)

Group 4
Penarol (URU)
Atletico Nacional (COL)
Sporting Cristal (PER)
Huracan (ARG)/FC Caracas (VEN)

Group 5
Atlético Mineiro (BRA)
Colo-Colo (CHI)
Melgar (PER)
Independiente del Valle (ECU)/Guaraní (PAR)

Group 6
San Lorenzo (ARG)
Grêmio (BRA)
LDU Quito (ECU)
Toluca (MEX)

Group 7
Olimpia (PAR)
Emelec (ECU)
Deportivo Táchira (VEN)
UNAM (MEX)

Group 8
Corinthians (BRA)
Cerro Porteño (PAR)
Cobresal (CHI)
Oriente Petrolero (BOL)/Santa Fe (COL)

Qualification began today with two first-leg matches
Huracan 1 FC Caracas 0
River Plate 2 U de. Chile 0

Another change made was that Boca's had their closed door penalty reduced to 2 matches from the original 8 matches. It applies to both home and away matches.

Click to read more...

 

[Panteras]

I've been seeing a couple of games. Right now Racing is beating Bolivar 3-0 in the first half. Yesterday I saw Liga of Quito beating San Lorenzo after a great goal from guy forgot his name. It's very good football.


edit: Holy cow I got really surprised there for a second when I saw "Callejon" playing for Bolivar and looks just like Callejon from Napoli ex Real Madrid.

Looked it up, it's his twin brother lmao what do you know haha

 

[Panteras]

Cali vs Boca right now

Cali is playing very rough, 9 minutes in Boca is forced to change a midfielder due to a challenge from Cali defender. No card from ref

Boca controlling the match

Tevez and Gago started for Boca

 

[Panteras]

Pumas UNAM beat Olimpia of Paraguay in Asuncion 0-2, could've been 1-5 the Olimpia goalie made a bunch of saves and one Pumas player missed a clear empty net goal while the Pumas goalie made 1 massive save to keep a clean sheet, supposedly was Pumas' only away win in their history in the competition

watching Atletico Nacional of Medellin beating Sporting Cristal of Peru 2-0 35 mins in, they have no chance it seems.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Sorry noob question: are any of these teams as good enough for the Champions League? Which ones are closest?

Are there any Neymar-type prospects on these teams?

Thank you! Viva futbol en America

 

[Power Man]

Go Boca

 

[Savi]

I think the top Brazilian and Argentina teams could hold a pot 4 spot in the Champions League tbh

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

They can hold their own in the same way PSV/Benfica can I would think.

Not at Neymar's level but Malcolm is supposed to be good. Was going to say Gabriel to but I don't think he's in the tournament. Both are Brazilian.

 

[Panteras]

Sorry noob question: are any of these teams as good enough for the Champions League? Which ones are closest?

Are there any Neymar-type prospects on these teams?

Thank you! Viva futbol en America

to be honest I barely watch CL anymore due to the time difference and work. I only get to watch EPL/La Liga and some Italian league games on the weekends.

Most definitely there are teams that are good enough for the CL. I mean you got the likes of BATE Borisov and didn't some Kazakh team made it this year? So in short, yes. Several teams (usual suspects of Brazilian and Argentinian teams) can hold on in the CL. As some have mention can easily make later stages of CL even final.

the style of play is rougher though I would say. The game the other day Cali vs Boca was a bloodbath, Cali literally started off chopping any Boca player down. But you could see the quality of football that Boca proposed, they are a good team even though it ended 0-0.

Right now, San Lorezo vs Toluca of Mexico 1-1, good game very back and forth.

The Mexican teams are pretty good.

right now Gremio vs Liga of Quito, Gremio winning 2-0 38 mins in. Good worked goal the captain Maicon. Didn't catch the 2nd just now lol

I'm yet to see any standouts like Neymar was back in his days. But I was really impressed with a guy named Oscar Romero from Racing Club, great young midfielder only 23.

 

[Savi]

As some have mention can easily make later stages of CL even final.

Later stages maybe. Final? No chance

 

[Panteras]

Later stages maybe. Final? No chance

no chance? ok..

anyways, Boca vs Racing right now in La Bombonera, close off no fans

0-0 20 mins in but Boca should be up. Lodeiro missed a clear chance in front of the goalie hit it straight at him. Boca in control though.

 

[Savi]

no chance? ok..

You really think any South American team could handle Barça/Bayern/Madrid/PSG over two legs?

 

[chasespace]

Really wish MLS would find a way to play in the Libertadores

 

[Panteras]

You really think any South American team could handle Barça/Bayern/Madrid/PSG over two legs?

Barca is above any team on the planet right now.

Bayern would be very tough, but as for a "chance"? yeah, Mainz thinks so lol

 

[Panteras]

anybody watching Boca vs Independiente del Valle?

Boca lost 2-1 in Ecuador in the 1st leg and it's 1-1 in La Bombonera right now. Winner plays Atletico Nacional of Colombia for the final.

Nacional eliminated Sao Paulo convincingly. They have been the best team of this tournament I think they'll win it.

 

[jacobhockey13]

anybody watching Boca vs Independiente del Valle?

Boca lost 2-1 in Ecuador in the 1st leg and it's 1-1 in La Bombonera right now. Winner plays Atletico Nacional of Colombia for the final.

Nacional eliminated Sao Paulo convincingly. They have been the best team of this tournament I think they'll win it.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Panteras]

wtf is Boca doing bahahahahahaha what a horrific 2nd half start...ok they're done, losing 3-1 now at home. wow

Maradona in the stands must be so pissed lmao

 

[jacobhockey13]

Horrible handball call.

 

[Panteras]

Pavon! Goal, he's been the best player for Boca

 

[Panteras]

If Boca had scored that goal that hit the post in the first half could've been a different story. Plus that 3rd goal was a bad error by the goalie.

Anyways, I still think Nacional is taking this. In Ecuador I don't care what team you are it's going to be hard to get a result. But Nacional have been demolishing teams at home.

 

[Panteras]

Final Copa Libertadores 2016

Independiente Del Valle (Ecuador)
Formed 60 years ago, have only been in Ecuador top league since 2010
Would be pretty historic if they win.

projected line up

Azcona

Nuñez Caicedo Mina

Tellechea Orejuela Rizotto Cabezas

Sornoza Julio Angulo

Jose Angulo.



Atletico Nacional (Colombia)
Winners 1 (1989) , first Colombian team to win it.

They have been by far the best team in the competition and clear favorites.

projected line up

Armani

Bocanegra Sanchez Henriquez Diaz
Arias Perez
Torres
Berrio Moreno Borja




1st Leg, today 7/20
20:45

Venue:
Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa

this is not Independiente's home stadium by the way. They actually play here ...

 

[Panteras]

Berrio brakes the deadlock and Atletico Nacional winning in Quito.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out, Independiente haven't lost at home which is not surprising it's very hard to win in Quito for anyone.

But Nacional looking good.

 

[Panteras]

Independiente playing way better this 2nd half. They have been trying hard to get the tying goal but they have to be careful Nacional is deadly on the counter and they have been getting close to a breakaway twice now.

 

[Panteras]

well, big error from the Nacional goalie and Independiente ties it.

ends 1-1 kind of what I expected.

FYI away goals don't count in the Copa Libertadores final.

but I expect Nacional to thrash Independiente in Medellin.

 

[Savi]

Atletico Nacional (Colombia)
Winners 1 (1989) , first Colombian team to win it.

More like buying it than winning it