World Soccer - UK (2020-03)

WORLD SERVICE

on Sao Paulo, who as a result of their
triumphs in the early 1990s have a
special bond with this competition. Much
will be expected of coach Fernando Diniz
and his mix of veterans such as Dani Alves
and the club’s latest youth products.

INTERESTING OUTSIDERS
Since the Libertadores became a year-
long competition in 2017, Brazil and
Argentina have supplied all but five
of the 24 quarter-finalists, but 2008
champions LDU of Ecuador reached
the last eight a few months ago. Pablo
Repetto’s team do not look as strong
this year but they remain dangerous,
especially at home.
LDU’s neighbours Independiente
del Valle are interesting outsiders. A tiny
club that focuses on youth development,
they outplayed all comers on the way to
winning last year’s Sudamericana, and it
will be fascinating to see if they can show
the same form in the Libertadores.
A country that consistently punches
above its weight is Paraguay. Daniel

Garnero’s Olimpia have been the

dominant domestic force and veteran

striker Roque Santa Cruz will hope to

carry his superb recent form into the

competition. Libertad are also consistent

Libertadores performers and under the

vastly experienced Ramon Diaz they will

have their sights set high.

Colombia were the last country to

break the Argentina/Brazil monopoly,

and they have a couple of interesting

representatives. Junior of Barranquilla

have been the dominant domestic

club for a while, without being able to

make an impression on the Libertadores,

but maybe this will be their year. And

America of Cali are back for the first

time since 2009 after Costa Rican coach

Alexandre Guimaraes took them to the

domestic title.

THE REST

There will be plenty of interest in Diego

Forlan’s coaching debut with Penarol of

Uruguay, but local rivals Nacional ended

last year as the stronger of the two and

would seem to be in an easier group.

There are hopes that Universidad

Catolica might be the best side to come

out of Chile in a while. They have lost

coach Gustavo Quinteros to Tijuana of

Mexico, though Argentina’s Ariel Holan

is an intriguing replacement.

While Chilean clubs have only

managed to qualify one team from the

group phase in the last five years, in the

case of Peru it is one in nine, and one in

10 for Venezuela.

But with factors such as altitude always

a consideration when teams travel to La

Paz in Bolivia, the Libertadores always

has potential for an upset.

Hopes...Penarol

(left, in yellow)

and Nacional

Humiliation...Flamengo

(in red) thrashed Gremio

6-1 on aggregate last year