Brazilian Futebol

News and opinion about Brazilian football (soccer).

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Brazil and Argentina play in the Sudamericana

Three matches on Wednesday and one on Thursday mark the first leg of the matches between Brazilian and Argentinean teams in the Copa Sudamericana, or South American Cup. This Wednesday, Corinthians plays Lanus in Sao Paulo, while Atletico Paranaense and Santos travel to Buenos Aires to face River Plate and San Lorenzo, respectively.

In Sao Paulo, Corinthians tries to break a seven-game winless streak against teams from Argentina, dating back to 2001. The game against Lanus is also special for coach Emerson Leao, facing the team for the first time since he was involved in a fight with employees of the club in Buenos Aires in 1997, when he was coaching Atletico Mineiro. For tonight's game, midfielder Magrao will be rested to recover from a thigh injury, but the rest of the team should be the same that has been playing regularly in the Brazilian League. Lanus is currently in eighth place in Argentina's Apertura Tournament. Trying to get at least one away goal in the first leg, coach Ramon Cabrero has said he will not take an ultra-defensive approach, but rather try to open things up.

Meanwhile, Santos travels to Buenos Aires to face San Lorenzo. The team will play without midfielders Ze Roberto and Maldonado, and will again likely give a chance to many youngsters to get some match practice and international experience. Coach Wanderley Luxemburgo has not announced his starting team, but has frequently claimed the South American competition is not the team's priority this season. San Lorenzo, which is trying to recover from a 1-0 loss to Lanus on Sunday, will be without three players this Wednesday: Pablo Quattrocchi and Andres Silvera are injured, and Diego Rivero is suspended. Santiago Hirsig has been cleared to play by team doctors.

In an earlier game, Atletico Paranaense faces traditional side River Plate in the Monumental de Nunez Stadium. Teams will be taking a different approach to the game, however. Atletico will have all its main players available. River will field a reserve side, with eight changes from the starting squad that tied Colon 1-1 on Sunday in the Argentine League.

On Thursday, the other Brazilian team in the competition, Fluminense, faces Gymnasia y Esgrima in Rio de Janeiro.

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