Copa Libertadores 2014 gets underway

Emelec’s Fernando Gimenez celebrates his goal against Bolivar from Bolivia during their 2014 Copa Libertadores football match at George Capwell stadium in Guayaquil, Ecuador on February 13, 2014.

The main inter-club football championship of the Americas: the Copa Libertadores 2014 – equivalent to the European Champions League started this week. The panorama of the competition has been complete dominion of the Brazilian teams that have won every year since 2010. The economic difference has been the biggest advantage of Brazilian clubs over other South American rivals. But the economic factor does not always block teams that have smaller budgets to beat the bigger clubs. The atmosphere of the tournament is laden with hostility and regional rivalry. In South America, if you have a very good team, it’s not enough to win.

“The Copa Libertadores is more difficult to play because in some countries like Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru or Venezuela the game is at altitude mountain or in bad fields, with terrific grass, it undermines a more technical team from Brazil or Argentina. In the UEFA Champions League a big club don’t have problem to play in any field because every European country has great fields” said Deco, ex-midfielder from Barcelona and Chelsea. The winner of the Copa Libertadores will play in the FIFA Club World Cup, in December.

Copa Libertadores in 2014 First Round results

GROUP A

Universitario (PERU) 0-1 Velez Sarsfield (ARGENTINA)

Atlético PR (BRAZIL) 1-0 The Strongest (BOLIVIA)

Velez Sarsfield, current Argentine champions, showed their strength beating Universitário, from Peru. They want the title mainly because the last time when they won a Libertadores edition was 20 years ago (1994). Their big rivals in this group, Atletico PR, from Brazil, also won in this first round.

GROUP B

Botafogo (BRAZIL) 2-0 San Lorenzo (ARGENTINA)

Independiente del Valle (ECUADOR) vs Union Española (CHILE) – February, 18.

After 18 years without competing in the Libertadores edition, Botafogo showed their strength against an Argentine colossus.

GROUP C

Deportivo Cali (COLOMBIA) 1-0 Cerro Porteno (PARAGUA)

Lanús (ARGENTINA) 0-0 O’Higgins (CHILE)

The Colombians have started well. Deportivo, a team from Cali city, has the eternal goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón in great shape in spite of being 42 years old! They beat Cerro Porteño, the current Paraguayan champion, whose star is the veteran Spanish striker Dani Guiza (Euro 2008 champion). Lanús, one of the favorite teams to win the tournament, didn’t manage to beat the Chilean team O’Higgins and the game finished 0-0.

GROUP D

Zamora (VENEZUELA) 0-1 Atlético / MG (BRAZIL)

Santa Fe (COLOMBIA) 3-1 Nacional (PARAGUAY)

Defending champion Atlético MG, which has Ronaldinho, the best player in the world in 2004 and 2005, had no trouble beating the weak Venezuelan team Zamora. Santa Fe from Colombia had one of the highest attendances of the first round when they beat Nacional and showed that they were strong contenders to fight for the title this year.

GROUP E

Real Garcilaso (PERU) 2-1 Cruzeiro (BRAZIL)

Universidad Chile (CHILE) 1-0 Defensor (URUGUAY)

Cruzeiro, current Brazilian champions, were defeated by Garcilaso in the interior of Peru – near Machu Picchu mountain. This was the biggest surprise of the round, but the game is under investigation because Brazilian midfielder Tinga said that received racist abuse from opposing players. In the other game of the group, Universidad Chile didn’t have any difficulty in beating Defensor.

GROUP F

Atlético Nacional (COLOMBIA) vs Newell’s Old Boys (ARGENTINA)

Gremio (BRAZIL) 1-0 Nacional (URUGUAY)

The big-match of the group was Nacional versus Gremio. Despite to have the old star Recoba, ex-Internazionale, playing with 38 years old, the Nacional was a disaster in the pitch. The brazilian side won with autorithy, where Ze Roberto, ex-Bayern Munich, with 39 years old, was the player of the match.

GROUP G

León (MEXICO) 2-1 Flamengo (BRAZIL)

Emelec (ECUADOR) vs Bolivar (BOLIVIA) – February, 14.

Taking advantage of playing with an extra man from the 10th minute, Leon beat Flamengo, Brazil’s most popular club.Midfielder Montes was the player of the match.

GROUP H

Santos Laguna (MEXICO) 1-0 Arsenal (ARGENTINA)

Deportivo Anzoátegui (VENEZUELA) 1-1 Peñarol (URUGUAY)

Peñarol’s draw, a giant in the South American continent, against the modest Anzoategui was the biggest frustration of the round. The Uruguayan team has in the squad striker Zalayeta, ex-Juventus (Italy), and left back Dario Rodriguez, 39, who played in World Cup 2002 for Uruguay.