Big Week Ahead, In More Ways Than One.

By: Mauro | August 25th, 2008

This is one of the few times that I am going to have to neglect my duties as the Copa Libertadores/Sudamericana Guru and believe me when I tell you that I’m not enjoying having to do this. It is a temporary thing and while I may actually have some time to post a few previews and whatnot over the next few days before the Sudamericana goes silent for the following two weeks, I might also be completely absent.

I did not want to leave anyone hanging (sorry Scott, I did see parts of the Argentinos-San Lorenzo match and they deserve some serious kudos to win away from home and I hope to be able to post something about that match including a video at some point) but my full time job pays the bills and is requiring my full attention over the next few days as it has been for the last week.

So here goes.

Argentinos beat San Lorenzo, 2-0, in convincing fashion at San Lorenzo’s Nuevo Gasometro Stadium last Thursday, the first leg of that one ended 0-0 in the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona. Also, Olimpia lost in their visit to Blooming, the away match had ended 4-2 in favor of the Paraguayans so last Thursday’s 1-0 loss in Bolivia is a mute point as Olimpia will face Universidad Católica in the next round (this Thursday, in fact).

Tuesday’s matches include Paraguayan Champs Libertad hosting Uruguay’s most effective team of the year, Defensor Sporting in the first match. Defensor squeaked out a 2-1 win at home last week. Then look for the first representative of Mexico to make an appearance, San Luis F.C., when they host Deportivo Quito of Ecuador. Deportivo had to play the preliminary round of the competition against Universitario of Peru.

Wednesday’s matches will feature São Paulo closing out their series with Atlético Paranaense in the first match. Two weeks ago, São Paulo and Paranaense bored us to tears in a 0-0 draw, if you want to skip one of these, this one might the one. Then, Atlético Mineiro hosts Botafogo in the second match of the day. Botafogo opened up Mineiro like a roast chicken two weeks ago and ran away with a 3-1 win. Closing out Wednesday’s matches is Venezuelan side Aragua F.C. hosting Chivas de Guadalajara. The second debut for a Mexican side this week.

Thursday’s matches begin with a bang, namely, the Gre-Nal derby. Gremio hosts Internacional of Porto Alegre in another installment of their long standing rivalry. They played to a 1-1 draw two weeks ago with Gremio fielding most of their youngsters and substitutes and Inter fielding the best they had. Since then, Inter have had a few surprising results and the jury is still out as to whether or not their in better shape than the last time we saw them. Closing out the week are Chilean side Universidad Católica hosting Olimpia of Paraguay. Olimpia played last week, so Católica might have a little more rest coming into this one.

Again, I apologize for the inconvenience but I’ll try to get back to you all with what I can before or after the matches and possibly some links to live feeds online and what not. ‘Til then, please bare with me as I try to balance everything I’ve currently got on my plate.

Cheers all.

In the meantime, feel free to check the CONMEBOL website for results and information about upcoming matches and for those of you in need of a bracket to get your heads around the competition, get one here.