2012 Copa Santander Libertadores

Group 7 done. Chivas got steamrolled by Deportivo Quito and Velez lost to Defensor Sporting. Deportivo and Velez are through.

The end of group 3 is next. Only Union Espanola are through. The other 3 sides are all alive in the fight to join them in the next round. Think I'll catch Bolivar x Universidad Catolica.

Velez lost and let Fluminense stay on 1st overall in group stage.

Yes, I'm from Minas Gerais. You're brazilian too, right?

No, I'm not. I just really like Brazilian - and South American - football. Welcome to the forum by the way. I hope you stay around for the start of the Brasileirão.

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So Unión Española and Bolivar are through from Group 3. I like Bolivar. They may not have the most talented players, but they (try to) play some good football.

Group stage done. Last 16 matchups:



Many interesting matchups. Flu x Inter and Velez x Atletico Nacional are the ones that stand out.

Also looking forward to the Velez vs Medellin.

Flu, Corinthians, Santos, Quito, Cruz Azul, Nacional, Lanus, and Boca Juniors to go through.

Interesting that you chose Quito. Any particular reason?

Mine would be:

Flu, Emelec*, Santos, La U, Cruz Azul, Nacional, Vasco, Boca

* Biased to the heavens, but I do think Corinthians will choke like they always do.

I think they will upset La U de Chile. They have a squad to keep it close, so they just need to be effective with their chances.Fidel Martinez and Matias have also shown they can cause trouble for other teams.

I see. I didn't see any of their games in the group stage, so I'm a bit oblivious as to how they play.

No more of Diego Villar's magnificent beard in the Libertadores.

First games of the last 16 start tonight.

Bolivar x Santos
Internacional x Fluminese

Let's get this show on the road.

Velez beat Atletico Nacional 1x0 away from home. Cruz Azul face Libertad later.

Boca just beat Union Espanola 2x1 at home. Two Brazilian sides coming up in 15 minutes. Corinthians are away to Emelec while Vasco host Lanus.

Vasco won 2x1 and Corinthians had to settle for a draw. Great goal by Diego Souza for Vasco:

Deportivo Quito x La U up in 10 minutes.

Deportivo Quito destroyed La U.

I couldn't believe it when I saw the score. La U's offside trap was a complete joke. Can't even blame the altitude. They handled LDU with ease last year. I still think they can go through though.

I think it is too much of a hole they are in. Quito just needs to park the bus in Chile and they're through.

I get the feeling Boca is going to the finals. People don't like their style of play, but it suits a knockout competition. Kind of hope they win it if they do get to that stage, so the legend of Riquelme can grow even bigger.

Yeah, Boca have a perfect formula for success. Wouldn't mind Santos meeting and beating them in the final to exorcise the demons of 2003.

Last night Libertad and Velez got through to the quarterfinals. Tonight Boca beat Union Espanola to join them there.

Corinthians x Emelec and Lanus x Vaso coming up later.

Riquelme

That was some lazy defending for his goal.

Vasco and Corinthians are through. The former had to do it on penalties. They now face each other in the quarters.

Sophisticated and I both got two predictions right so far. We'll have to see how the three games tomorrow pan out.

Santos 8-0 win over Bolivar. Statement sent.

Bringing Borges on after 7-0

Kinda felt sorry for them after 4x0.



Ganso.

That goal was very good, but I liked Elano's second and Borges' goal more.

Have to admit, everyone is jealous of Santos.

Yeah, Borges' goal was a cracker. Bolivar's defense made Elano's a bit too easy though.

La U already 2 nil against Deportivo Quito. Currently. 4x3 on agg in favor of the Ecuadorians. Flu and Inter tied at 1x1 in the Engenhao.

Looks like Quito is done. If I'm not wrong, that'll mean you got 1 more prediction right than me.

What a night. La U came back from 4x1 down from the first leg to annihilate Deportivo Quito 6x0. They're scary. The tag of "Barcelona das Americas" was not given lightly.



The pass for the assist.

Flu beat Inter 2x1 to progress as well. The quarter-final matchups are:

Boca x Flu
Libertad x La U

Santos x Velez
Vasco x Corinthians

Games start next week.

My semifinal predictions:

La U x Flu
Santos x Corinthians

Edit: This joke was floating around Twitter during the Santos game in several forms:

"Bolivar claramente sentindo os efeitos da baixitude. Deviam proibir jogos ao nivel do mar, é deshumano."

Bolivar are clearing feeling the effects of playing at low altitude. Games at sea level should be banned, they're inhumane.