There are 12 former champions within the discipline of South America’s Copa Libertadores, which kicks off on Tuesday. Not all of them, nevertheless, have lifelike hopes of successful this time. The Uruguayan pair, Penarol and Nacional, have been very robust within the early years however haven’t lifted the trophy for the reason that late Eighties. Greater than 30 years have handed since Colo Colo of Chile gained the competitors for the one time. And Olimpia of Paraguay’s final title got here 20 years in the past. All of which leaves Brazil and Argentina.
Because the Libertadores moved to its present format in 2017, performed throughout the 12 months somewhat than squeezed into the primary six months, the domination of the massive two has been all however full. From the opposite eight international locations, just one different membership — Barcelona of Ecuador — has reached the semifinals. And for the reason that controversial River Plate vs. Boca Juniors remaining in 2018, Brazil has taken management, with three consecutive wins, the final two in all-Brazilian finals.
Final time spherical Palmeiras retained their title beating Flamengo within the remaining, with home double winners Atletico Mineiro bowing out unbeaten within the semis. These are Brazil’s present massive three and probably the most logical place to search for this 12 months’s favourites.
– Vickery: Can River or Boca break Brazil’s Libertadores dominance?
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Palmeiras, nonetheless beneath Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira, look particularly robust. Flamengo have a brand new Portuguese coach, former worldwide midfielder Paulo Sousa, who might nicely already be questioning if he has made a mistake strolling out on the Poland nationwide crew to take cost of the Rio giants. He has not received off to an excellent begin. His three centre-back system, thus far, is trying like an rigid imposition. However Flamengo’s group doesn’t come throughout as particularly taxing, which can purchase Sousa some a lot wanted time.
Atletico Mineiro even have a overseas coach, Argentina’s Antonio Mohamed. He has been much less doctrinaire than Sousa, adapting his system to the gamers somewhat than vice versa. However his crew have been drawn in one of many more durable teams, with spice added by two native derbies in opposition to America Mineiro, taking part in their first Libertadores marketing campaign and eager to pour water into the champagne of their glamorous metropolis rivals.
Of the opposite Brazilian groups, a lot will anticipated of Corinthians, whose skilled squad is perhaps higher suited to a cup competitors than the lengthy haul of the Brazilian league. And this throws up an early conflict in a key battle of this 12 months’s competitors — Brazil versus Argentina. In a replay of the 2012 remaining, Corinthians’ lone Libertadores triumph, they’re in the identical group as Boca Juniors.
Estudiantes‘ pragmatic facet is perhaps tough opponents. However there appears little doubt that the primary Argentine problem ought to come from River Plate and Boca Juniors. The Buenos Aires rivals have contrasting kinds. Beneath the reign — practically eight years and working — of Marcelo Gallardo, River are expansive and straightforward on the attention. Gallardo has already taken the membership to 2 Libertadores triumphs, however within the final three years he has discovered it successively more durable to tackle the Brazilians. This 12 months the membership have invested closely to offer him with a extra aggressive facet, and will probably be fascinating to see whether or not his facet will be capable to defend in opposition to the most effective of the Brazilians. Debutants Fortaleza will pose a take a look at within the group section — however the stiffer challenges will certainly come within the second half of the 12 months.
Boca, in the meantime, are more likely to put their religion in a mannequin of play primarily based on tight defence and counter-attacks. It would presumably show more practical in opposition to the Brazilians, and the 2 group video games in opposition to Corinthians will throw up some early proof.
Elsewhere, there’s all the time curiosity within the Ecuadorian golf equipment. Little Independiente del Valle have raised the bar considerably with the excellence of their youth work, and in latest instances they’ve seen that they’ll compete for titles in addition to fulfilling the primary goal of manufacturing and promoting gamers. In 2019 they gained the Copa Sudamericana, the continent’s Europa League equal, and they’re now home champions for the primary time. Their type is perhaps too expansive for the Libertadores — they have been taken aside by Palmeiras final 12 months — however they’re all the time value watching.
If Ecuador has been punching above its weight, then a lot the identical applies to Paraguay, whose groups could make up for in resilience what they lack in excellent expertise. The 2 conventional Asuncion rivals, Cerro Porteno and Olimpia, have been drawn in the identical group, and a giant attraction of Tuesday’s first night time is the newest model of Paraguay’s massive derby.
If Ecuador and Paraguay have tended to do higher than might need been anticipated, the other is true of Colombia. Atletico Nacional gained the trophy in 2016, the final 12 months earlier than the change of format. Since then, just one Colombian facet has managed to progress past the group section — a extremely disappointing efficiency from the nation with the most important inhabitants within the continent outdoors Brazil.
This 12 months has not began nicely. Each Millonarios and Atletico Nacional fell within the qualifying rounds. And this opening week might be a take a look at of the energy of the Colombian problem. On Tuesday Deportivo Cali are at dwelling to Boca Juniors, whereas 24 hours later Tolima play host to Atletico Mineiro. The Colombians, then, are straight into the motion in opposition to among the event favourites. However they’ve dwelling benefit. Can they make it depend? Or will 2022 be one other 12 months when Brazil and Argentina dominate South America’s Champions League?
