South America’s two continental finals will be defined this week, and both could feature exclusively Brazilian teams if the oddsmakers are correct. We take a look at what’s ahead on the continent, while also recapping headlines from Liga MX, MLS, and the Copa Colombia.
Copa Libertadores Semifinals Alive This Week
Fluminense were trailing 2-0 late against Palmeiras, before teenager Wesley Nata scored his first goal for the club to end the match 2-1. That means it’s still advantage Palmeiras, but it wasn’t a rout in the first legs. This Wednesday Flaco Lopez and Palmeiras will remain the favorite, though Vitor Roque is unfit.
Estudiantes held Flamengo not just scoreless, but without a shot on target at home in the first leg. The Argentine club will need to keep their heads down and grind away from home on Thursday. Flamengo will return Jorginho for the second leg of this semi.
The Troubles at El Campin in Bogota Continue
After being completely unplayable after rains and a concert, Bogota’s El Campin stadium returned to hosting football over the weekend. While the game was completed, the players remained unsatisfied with the conditions of the field.
Juan Cuadrado made his home debut for Millonarios in a 4-1 win over Jaguares, but Millos own Rodrigo Contreras took a blowtorch to stadium management, saying plainly, “the pitch is in very bad shape, it’s dangerous for the players”.
In more uplifting news, the 8-year-old who was denied his chance to see Millonarios play live for the first time was able to stay in Bogota, and enjoyed access to a private practice session with photos and autographs from the blue ballet. After Colombian football had rallied around the boy and his parents.
You May Also Like: Bogota’s El Campin Stadium Is Unfit for Football — Ask the Eight-Year-Old Who Rode 20 Hours to See It
Vasco Da Gama Look to Complete Win over Boca Juniors in Copa Sudamericana
Vasco Da Gama pulled off a stunning result in Buenos Aires last week, 1-0 over Boca Juniors, the difficult win putting them on the cusp of a Copa Sudamericana final via the headed goal from Adson. Andres Gomez had both an assist, and a terrible red card for Vasco in the match, and he will miss the second leg on Tuesday.
Boca Juniors expects to return Leandro Paredes to the lineup, and Miguel Merentiel will be on the goal hunt as they try to overturn the first leg result.
Atletico Mineiro are nearly there in terms of reaching the final, after a 3-0 home win over Montevideo City Torque they just have to hold on away in Uruguay. An all-Brazilian Sudamericana final could be in the cards.
A Thrilling Clasico Paisa Ends With The Verdolaga as Winners
A great atmosphere gave way to great football in the single-leg Copa Colombia quarterfinal between the two grandes of Medellin. Atletico Nacional, the green, came away 3-2 winners over Medellin, the red, in a match where they took a 2-0 lead into the half, but stumbled late and had to fight to hold on 3-2. It was the veterans Edwin Cardona and Andres Roman who were standouts, as Nacional was without a designated striker due to injuries. Cardona was key on set pieces, and Roman broke through for the third and decisive goal on a James Rodriguez pass. Medellin made a late push, but Franco Armani, the Argentine veteran, didn’t concede under pressure.
Nacional, second in the league table, will face Santa Fe or Once Caldas in the Copa Colombia semifinals, Medellin will have to regroup as they look to secure their place in the Liga Betplay Dimayor final eight, they are 6th on the domestic table.
South American Football Finances Under Review in Brazil and Colombia
The ongoing discussion around the financial state of South American football has new talking points this week. Globo, the media giant in Brazil released information on the wage bills in the Brasileirao. Flamengo, Palmeiras, Corinthians and Cruzeiro being the teams splashing the most cash on wages in the league. Those four clubs, by some measures, clearly competing with strong teams in Europe. The open question is whether sports betting will remain banned in Brazil, as it has a significant impact on team finances.
Read More: Brazil’s Betting Ban Could Suddenly Reshape the Finances of the Brasileirao
A full financial report was also published on Colombian professional football last week. More will be written on this later, but Atletico Nacional lead in terms of revenue, while Once Caldas, of Manizales, has perhaps the healthiest finances in the Liga Betplay Dimayor.
Club America Puts Five Past Leon
Club America continued to show offensive strength, beating a quality Leon side in a 5-3 thriller to remain atop of the Liga MX table. Cruz Azul were also 5-0 winners, and the team of the month is Santos Laguna, Tahiel Jimenez, 20, had a hat trick and Santos have moved up to 9th on the table after five straight wins.
Tigres weren’t so lucky, Juan Brunetta scored but then drew a red card, Chivas was able to hold onto a 1-1 result, while Monterrey returned to the top 8 with a game in hand, 2-1 winners over Pachuca at home.
This week is a double Matchday week in Liga MX, America travel midweek to Jalisco to take on an Atlas team that finds itself third in the table. Santos look to keep up their winning ways against Pumas UNAM.
Independiente Del Valle’s Party is Delayed
There hasn’t been much drama at the top of the table in Ecuador this season, but for at least a few more days Independiente Del Valle are not yet champions. Macara upset them 1-0 over the weekend. With the result, Macara are also in a Copa Libertadores spot, something incredibly financially valuable in Ecuadorian football. IDV can win on Friday at home over Universidad Catolica, and celebrate as champions.
Lionel Messi Keeps Dominating MLS Defences
Inter Miami rolled past Atlanta United away on the weekend, the result locks them into the playoffs, likely condemns Atlanta to missing the playoffs, and continues to show Lionel Messi is the player MLS defenders cannot stop, or even hope to contain. In 27 appearances, Messi has 25 goals and 15 assists, he’s contributed to a goal in 14 straight matches.
Still, Nashville SC are set to win the MLS Supporters shield, and that would be the playoff match in the MLS Eastern Conference everyone is looking forward to.
Another team into the MLS playoffs? Robert Lewandowski and the Chicago Fire.
Caribbean Cup Semifinal Delayed
The fallout from Haiti’s 4-1 win over the Dominican Republic in the CONCACAF Nations League continued this week. Haitian side Violette, the best team from Haiti, had their semifinal second leg against Jamaica’s Portmore United delayed by a week. The reason is Dominican supporters and politicians revoked Violette’s right to play their home games in the D.R., while Haiti remains in a state of armed conflict.
Violette are a talented team, but they remain without a home as they compete for a spot in next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup.
River Plate With Slim Hopes of Copa Libertadores
Attacker Thiago Almada has been on a blinder for River Plate, but with the annual table race in the Liga Argentina winding down, River Plate’s hopes of reaching the Copa Libertadores remain slim (and perhaps hinging on Boca Juniors or Estudiantes winning a continental cup). River, on 49 points, are seventh in the Liga Argentina annual table, they are behind Rosario Central, Argentinos Juniors, and yes Boca Juniors among others.
The Superclasico at Boca Juniors on November 1st looms, but ultimately River Plate need to win out to have a shot at returning to South America’s biggest tournament, a place where their spending would suggest they would land.
Cerro Porteno’s Turmoil in Paraguay
Heading into the Paraguayan Superclasico against Olimpia on November 1st, Paraguay’s Cerro Porteno are in crisis. A draw on Sunday to Sportivo Ameliano left them out of the Libertadores positions, and five recently suspended players are also threatening legal action. Their leading striker, 38-year-old Argentine Pablo Vegetti made an angry gesture towards the supporters when he was leaving the field. Despite his age, Vegetti is still showing plenty of passion for football.
Derby Drama in Bolivia
We close with a visit to Bolivia, where Bolivar lead the league table. The La Paz Derby was where the drama was though, The Strongest were 2-1 winners over Always Ready to remain competitive in the title hunt. Those three teams, the top 3 in Bolivia presently. For such a pivotal game? The Strongest only managed to get 20,000 into a 42,000 capacity stadium, a sign of waning interest in local football in Bolivia.
Extra Time Notes
South American football is in motion as the calendar nears November. The Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana final will be defined this week, and it could be all about Brazil. Meanwhile in North America, Liga MX and MLS are slowly heading towards their playoff conclusions with big clubs like Club America and Inter Miami highly competitive. Lionel Messi remains the greatest player in the region. River Plate are fighting for the Libertadores in Argentina, while Haiti and the Dominican Republic continue to clash over nationalism and football.
More World Football Coverage:
Luis Diaz Hat-Trick: Colombian Winger Ends Bundesliga Goal Drought
Roma vs Real Madrid: Seven Minutes of Chaos
Main Photo Credit: Imago Images Copyright: xMarianaxBazox
