Players To Watch In The Next Round.

By: Mauro | April 28th, 2008

Google Search Results

You arrived here after searching for the following phrases:

fc
atlas
roster

Click a phrase to jump to the first occurrence, or return to the search results.

I figured it would be best to start from the top of the fixture list I published late last week.

Corporación Deportiva Atlético Nacional vs. Fluminense Football Club (Estadio Atanasio Girardot, Medellin, Colombia)

Atlético Nacional have, over the years, been the home to many of Colombia’s and South America’s great players. This squad is no exception. Watch for Atl. Nacional’s strikers Sergio Galvan Rey and Carlos Villagra to try to do some damage to Flu’s defense. These two guys have paired up in the group stage, with particularly good showings at home and away against Sportivo Luqueño. Look for Elkin Murillo and Juan Zuñiga pulling the strings behind them. Zuñiga sits further behind and is able to see more of the pitch, Murillo is the one who can make that last defense-splitting pass.

I began writing this thinking that Dodo was not going to be able to play in this match. He’s coming off a particularly grotesque injury. This injury was going to have him out for a month but I read that late last week he was present at the Sao Paulo - Atl. Nacional las group stage match. Looks like he’ll be able to get in some minutes this week. Watch for him to make a mark on the match should he come on. He and Thiago Neves had made a great partnership and I look for more of that on Wednesday. Also, look for Dario Conca and Cicero to re-visit the great partnership, especially against LDU Quito, they had built near the end of the group stage.

Club America vs. Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico)

America have not been at their best. Even as I type this, there are rumors that Carlos Bianchi has been offered the position as coach of this club. But despite that, America do have a strong command of their currency and are able to pick up some great players. Look for Salvador Cabañas to keep Flamengo defenders entertained and don’t forget about Rodrigo Iñigo and Enrique Esqueda who also come on strong and scored a couple of great goals at home against River Plate.

Not to be outdone, Flamengo play a nice brand of football as well. With players like Marcinho and Souza either partnering or on their own up front, they’ll keep the Americanista defense busy. You’ve also got Ibson as the team’s main play-maker in midfield, serving up the ball to his strikers. These three looked good in their away match against Cienciano (similar opponent and situation on Wednesday in terms of the opponent’s form and geographical location) But again, not to be outdone, goal-keeper Bruno holds his own, under the three posts and as we discovered last week, on free kicks as well.

Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro vs. Club Atlético River Plate (Estadio Nuevo Gasometro, Buenos Aires, Argentina)

San Lorenzo have found their feet in the local league and were able to close out the group stage with an emphatic win against Caracas FC. Andres D’Allesandro has found his place on this squad, couple that with either Gonzalo Bergessio or Andres ‘Cuqui’ Silvera up front and you have a pretty dangerous front three.

Coming into this match, River Plate have quite a few players coming together and playing really well. The one to watch for though is Diego Buonanotte who is coming off scoring two fantastic goals against Argentinos Juniors at the weekend. Abreu is also starting to score goals regularly after surviving quite the drought in both the league and the Libertadores. Also, Matías Abelairas has been playing fantastic ball for River. And you can’t count out Radamel Falcao. All of these elements came together in their last group stage match.

F.C. Atlas A.C. vs. Club Atlético Lanús (Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico)

Atlas are hosting Lanús in Mexico for this one. Look for Bruno Marioni to try to score his 6th goal of the competition, he’s easily the biggest scoring threat for Atlas along with Ulises Mendevil. Look for them to pair up and make the Lanús defenders work extra hard. Atlas in action.

On the other side of the ball, Lanús have gained back their injured players and should be full strength for this one. Jose Sand is the main scoring threat and when given and foot he’ll make you pay. Look for Diego Valeri to serve up some passes to Sand and his striking partner, Lautaro Acosta. Goal-keeper Carlos Bossio will also help to keep things close. Watch as Sand makes Danubio pay.

Club Atlético Boca Juniors vs. Cruzeiro Esporte Clube (Estadio La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Arguably the tie of the round, Cruzeiro has a great team and had a great showing in the group stage and have the leading goal scorer on their squad in Marcelo Moreno Martins. The 20 year old is without question the player to watch on this squad but there are quite a few other role players on this squad, each doing their part to build an excellent side. With players like, Guilherme and Wagner, Boca should have their hands full.

Boca also have quite the roster of players. Their form is not nearly what it should be but this competition is their bread and butter. That’s why you should watch for players like Martin Palermo and Jesús Dátolo to pick up the slack if there is any. And don’t forget about the supposedly European-bound Rodrigo Palacio and the unequalled Juan Roman Riquelme. All of these guys have proven they can hang with the best of them on this stage. Check out the match they had at home against Colo Colo, probably one of the better matches of the group stage. Riquelme was not available for that match, Leandro Gracián replaced him and is also one to watch.

Liga Deportiva Universitaria Quito vs. Estudiantes de La Plata (Estadio La Casa Blanca, Quito, Ecuador)

LDU Quito had a great group stage, making thing complicated for another great squad like Fluminense. The players to look out for on their squad are, Patricio Urrutia and Damian Manso. Urrutia had some great matches in the group stage hooking up with Manso in the midfield. Manso is small with a lower center of gravity which makes him deadly on the break. Look for former Ecuadorian national team player, Agustin Delgado, to make a contribution as well. LDU Quito in action.

For Estudiantes, their best player, far and away is Juan Sebastian Veron. While the team on it’s own, without Veron, are steel hardy and can defend themselves against anyone, with Veron they reach a whole new level. Sitting back, deep in the midfield, he’s able to see the pitch in it’s entirety and therefore able to see where the pass should go. Don’t, however, overlook players like Pablo Piatti and a hard running Ivan Moreno y Fabianesi. Estudiantes in action.

Santos FC vs. Deportivo Cúcuta (Estadio Vila Belmiro, Santos, Brazil)

No two players have been as integral to their team’s success as Macnelly Torres and Matías Urbano. They hooked up for quite a few of Urbano’s 5 goals in the group stage. Coming through their group as underdogs, Urbano, Torres and company surprised Mexican giants Chivas by winning both matches, away and then home against them in consecutive matches. Look for some serious defense and some quick counterattacking passes with Urbano and Torres involved, of course. Their best match was in Bolivia.

Santos are no slouches themselves. In this re-do of the group stage, look to Mauricio Molina, their top goal-scorer, to extend his tally from the 5 goals he now has. Also, look to vice-captain Kleber, to be the defensive stalwart he’s been throughout the group stage. Also look for Mariano Tripodi to come off the bench and create some dangerous opportunities like he did at the end of Santos’ last group stage match against Cúcuta. Their best match in the group stage came at home against San José of Bolivia.

Club Nacional de Montevideo vs. Sao Paulo FC (Parque Central, Montevideo, Uruguay)

Sao Paulo came into this competition as a favorite. It makes sense with a great goal-keeper like Rogerio Ceni and a tough, big bodied goal-scorer Adriano who has come back to Sao Paulo from Inter Milan on loan. Not much more can be said about this squad, they’ve won a few matches on the back of Adriano scoring prowess. Aside from him, only the squad’s keeper is of note. Look to Rogerio Ceni to keep them in tight matches.

Nacional, on the other hand, has had some really great matches at home. Away from home they’ve been less than impressive except for their trip to Tacna, Peru to meet group minnows Coronel Bolognesi. In all the matches where they’ve shone, Richard Chengue Morales, the unequivocal heart and soul of the squad, has been the spear head of their attack. At 6′ 5″, he’s an easy target to see in the penalty area, which makes it easy for him to nod balls down to his team mates as well as take some shot on goal himself. Look for him to be a tough mark for the Sao Paulo defense. Here’s a good representation of Nacional’s style with Morales.