This is the 1st week of the group stage of the 2007 Copa Libertadores (the South American Champion's League equivalent) and some of the Brazilian clubs have began their campaigns over the last 2 days.
Brazil has 6 representatives in this year's edition of the Libertadores: Sao Paulo, Internacional, Gremio, Parana, Santos & Flamengo. Inter takes part as last year's winner. Sao Paulo, Gremio qualify straight to the group stage due to their performance in the Brazilian League in 2006 (1st and 3rd respectively, Inter was 2nd). Santos and Parana also qualify due to their league standing last year (4th & 5th respectively), but these clubs have already played this season in order to qualify for the group stage. Finally, Flamengo won their place due to winning last year's Brazilian Cup.
Wednesday 14/02/07
Real Potosi (Bolivia) 2x2 Flamengo - Group 5
Real Potosi play their home games at 4,000 metres above sea level and this is clearly used as an advantage by their team and so it proved against the Rio de Janeiro side. Real Potosi scored both their goals in the 1st half to lead 2x0, and despite the immense difficulty due to the high altitude (the Flamengo bench had canisters of oxygen on the side for the players!!) Flamengo used up all their strength to draw level at 2x2 and secure a draw away from home in difficult conditions. Good result for Flamengo.
Group 5 also includes Parana (Brazil) and Maracaibo (Venezuela).
Audax Italiano (Chile) 0x0 Sao Paulo - Group 2
The Chilean played for this result and achieved their goal in an uninspiring match. The plus side for Sao Paulo was the fact that they have now not lost in their last 22 games - some achievement! One of the best (?) players on the night was the chilean keeper Audax Peric, who even managed to save a couple of free-kicks by Sao Paulo's expert free-kick taker, the goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni. This result was OK for Sao Paulo, as it was away from home, but disappointing as not much is expected from the Chilean side.
Group 2 also includes Alianza Lima (Peru) and Necaxa (Mexico).
Other results: Bolivar 0x0 Boca Juniors and from previous evening: Emelec 0x1 Velez, Defensor Sporting 3x0 Gimnasia y Esgrima, Cucuta 0x0 Tolima.
Thursday 15/02/07
Maracaibo (Venezuela) 2x4 Parana - Group 5
Coach Zetti's last minute decision to change from the preferred 3-6-1 to a 4-4-2 formation had the desired effects with Parana obtaining a result no one had expected! A fantastic result away from home.
Cerro Porteno (Paraguay) 0x1 Gremio - Group 3
This was a typical Libertadores Cup match - there was plenty of hostility from the Paraguayan crowd with objects being thrown onto the pitch (a bottle hit Gremio's Lucas), heated arguments, bad fouls and the like. Unfortunately for Cerro Porteno, Gremio is an experienced Libertadores Cup side and managed to control the game to win 1x0 with the goal scored by Lucas. This was the 7th game this season that Gremio won without conceding a goal in a row (18 scored!). Gremio's goalkeeper, the Argentinian Sebastian Saja (ex-San Lorenzo) had an inspired night when needed, even saving a penalty on the 44th minute of the 2nd half. Great start for Gremio away from home.
Group 3 also includes Cucuta and Tolima (both from Colombia).
The first games for the two Brazilian clubs still to play in the group stage are:
Nacional (Uruguay) x Inter - Wednesday 21/02/07
Deportivo Pastos x Santos - Thursday 22/02/07
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