Copa Libertadores Semifinals Preview

The Copa Libertadores took a break for World Cup 2010. But that tournament in South Africa is over and so now this one is back. And it’s at the semifinal stage already. Club Deportivo Guadalajara (aka Chivas) will face Universidad de Chile in one semi, while the other is an all Brazilian showdown between Internacional and São Paulo. The semis are decided over two legs (home and away) with away goals being the tie-breaker if needed.

CD Guadalajara vs Universidad de Chile, July 27th at Estadio Azteca, 8:15pm kick off local time (9:15pm US eastern)

Eagle eyed readers will notice that Chivas don’t usually play at the Azteca. In fact it’s the home stadium of their massive massive rivals, Club America. But Copa Libertadores is big money and the Azteca holds about a billion people (OK, 105,000, but that’s still a lot) so Chivas are both cashing in and hoping that playing their home match away from home doesn’t backfire. Chivas recently sold striker Javier Hernandez to Man Utd and so will be without his firepower.

Universidad de Chile are a little weaker post-World Cup as well, with two midfielders that featured in South Africa moving on. Uruguayan midfielder and Copa Libertaodres quarterfinal goalscorer Álvaro Fernández has joined Seattle Sounders in MLS, while Chilean midfielder Marco Estrada (he was the guys who was sent off after either tripping Fernando Torres or being the victim of a Fernando Torres dive) has joined Montpelier.

Second leg is August 3rd in Chile.

Internacional vs São Paulo, July 28th at Estadio Beira-Rio, 9:50pm local time (8:50pm US eastern)
There will be a Brazilian team in the Copa Libertadores final, and it will be one of these two. There’s no Ronaldo, Robinho or Adriano on display here, but still plenty of talent. São Paulo will be captained by veteran free kick and penalty scoring goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni, with the million dollar pass loving Hernanes in midfield. Up front they’ll have the 32 year old Fernandão, who ironically won the Copa Libertadores with Internacional in 2006, scoring against São Paulo in the final. A couple goals here and he’ll be forgiven no doubt. Fernandao’s strike partner will probably be former Milan, Betis and Valencia forward Ricardo Oliveira, on loan from his (moneymaking?) adventure in Abu-Dhabi with Al-Jazira.

Internacional will also have a Middle Eastern returnee, as striker Rafael Sóbis has returned (also from Al-Jazira, who must have had quite a strike-force last season) to re-sign with his old team. He’s played just one game so far, so it’s unclear how sharp he is. Two other recognizable names in the Internacaional squad squad are 37 year former Argentina keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri, and the still not yet 30 year old Argentine #10 Andres D’Allesandro, who was at one time “the next Diego Maradona” (before Leo Messi put an end to all that).

Second leg is August 5th.

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Category: South America