Wed. Copa Libertadores $$$

[sardius]

1 $trong pick for tonight:



Copa Libertadores second leg



GREMIO - Boca Juniors 0-2 :shocked:
in Porto Alegre
prediction: 4-1 Gremio



GREMIO -125 LOST :mj03:



Copa Libertadores Final Second Leg Preview: Gremio - Boca Juniors Wednesday, 20th of June 2007
Time: 20:45 (ET).
Venue: Olimpico Monumental, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia).
First Leg Result: Boca Juniors 3-0 Gremio.
Copa Libertadores Final Second Leg Preview: Gremio - Boca Juniors
zoom - galleria

GREMIO

ONLY A MIRACLE

The Brazilian press couldn?t be clearer; ?Only a miracle can save Gremio?. The Brazilians must overturn a negative three goal deficit in Porto Alegre, in order to force penalty shoot-outs.

If Boca get on the score-sheet Gremio will have to score five times! What this means is that Gremio?s chances of claiming their third Copa Libertadores are very bleak, unless they are able to record the biggest turnaround in the history of the competition.

This is very unlikely, because their opponents already proved to be superior in all aspects of their game last week. Despite this Mano Menezes? side must push to the attack straight from the kick-off in order to keep their chances alive.

UNDEFEATED AT HOME

What can motivate Gremio is that in each knock-out round so far they were able to win the series thanks to their outstanding home record, which has seen them undefeated and not having conceded a single goal in the entire competition.

They came back from away losses against Sao Paulo, and Defensor Sporting, and in their semi final showdown with Santos they recorded a comfortable 2-0 home victory, but went on to lose 3-1 at the Villa Belmiro, only advancing to the final on the away goals rule.

As they showed in the 3-0 loss at the Bombonera their away form is disastrous, but it is a completely different story when playing in-front of their home fans.

LAST FIVE

Grand Final: Boca 0-3

Semi Finals: Santos 1-3

Semi Finals: Santos 2-0

Quarter Finals: Defensor 2-0 (won 4-2 on penalty kicks)

Quarter Finals: Defensor 0-2

PROBABLE STARTING XL

Sebastian Saja, William, Teco, Patricio, Lucio, Diego Gavilan, Diego Souza, Tcheco, Tuta, Amoroso and Carlos Eduardo.

Manager: Mano Menezes.

KEY PLAYER

Lucio

The tricky winger has been Gremio?s biggest revelation this season. He has had an outstanding Copa Libertadores, and despite last Wednesday?s result he did his best to turn on the style at the Bombonera.

Lucio has a bright future, and has all the ingredients to represent the Brazilian national team for many years to come. He will look to start swift attacking moves in the second leg on Wednesday, and is likely to cause havoc for a Boca side that will sit back, looking for counterattacks.

BOCA JUNIORS

BIG ADVANTAGE

Boca?s three-goal advantage means they have everything in their favour to win the Copa Libertadores for the first time since 2003, and their sixth in total. They made the most of their huge home support at the Bombonera last week, and come into the second leg with overwhelming confidence.

With Rodrigo Palacio, Martin Palermo, and Juan Roman Riquelme Boca have enough attacking power to score an away goal, and put the series out of Gremio?s reach. Their demoralizing victory has given them a significant advantage, and their overall depth and experience means they will be hoisting another international title.

MASS EXODUS

After an emphatic first leg victory Boca have proven that they have the best squad in the continent. But after this Wednesday?s clash with Gremio their squad is likely to be disassembled. Juan Roman Riquelme has already confirmed that it will be his last match for the club, before returning to Europe, Clemente Rodriguez will leave for Espanyol of Spain, and classy centre back Daniel Diaz is on the verge of signing for AC Milan.

To make matters worse speedy striker Rodrigo Palacio is already in talks with Barcelona, and Martin Palermo has hinted a possible move to Club America of Mexico. There?s no doubt that Boca?s last match of the season will call an end to a spectacular era for the club.

LAST FIVE

Grand Final: Gremio 3-0

Semi Finals: Cucuta Deportivo 3-0

Semi Finals: Cucuta Deportivo 1-3

Quarter Finals: Libertad 2-0

Quarter Finals: Libertad 1-1

PROBABLE STARTING XL

BOCA JUNIORS: Mauricio Caranta, Hugo Ibarra, Daniel Diaz, Claudio Morel, Clemente Rodriguez, Pablo Ledesma, Ever Banega, Nery Cardozo, Juan Roman Riquelme, Rodrigo Palacio and Martin Palermo. Manager: Miguel Angel Russo.

KEY PLAYER

Juan Roman Riquelme

Riquelme?s Copa Libertadores form has been sensational, and he scored his second free-kick in successive matches against Gremio with a powerful drive, after a tricky layoff from Claudio Morel. Riquelme has been the key ingredient of a Boca team that has grown immensely throughout the competition, and is probably playing the best football in his whole career. Boca already have one hand on the cup, and after last week?s superb performance there?s no way anyone will be able to beat Riquelme to the MVP award.

PREDICTION

Gremio?s 3-0 humiliation at the Bombonera in no ways reflected their performance. They started strongly, played well for large periods of the match, but struggled in defense. In Porto Alegre they are likely to pile on the pressure throughout the entire ninety minutes, but will find it difficult to break down a very solid Boca. Still Gremio is likely to win the match in-front of their home fans, but it won?t be enough to win them the title.


GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[flapjack]

I took this one too, but I screwed around watching the line for the last couple days. Could have taken it with my book at -135 yesterday or this AM, ended up playing it at -167. Hope it hits.

 

[sardius]

Very disappointing loss? I?m speechless.. hmh

 

[flapjack]

Any thoughts on Italy - Portugal today in the U21's? Italy PK and the U2.5?

 

[sardius]

I'm playing overs. Both teams should be relaxed, with no pressure on them. We will see some goals.

Italy - Portugal 0-0 (4-3 after p.k's) LOST

OVER 2? +115

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[flapjack]

Isn't it Portugal-Italy? And, the winner goes to the Olympics in China I believe. Not sure what type of motivation that is and why U21 games are deciding Oly teams, but that is what I am reading:

Rivals keen to take up Olympic offer
Thursday 21 June 2007
by Andrew Haslam
from Arnhem

e-mailPrint

They may have missed out on their primary goal but there will be no shortage of incentive for Portugal and Italy as they meet at the Goffert Stadion in Nijmegen with a place in next year's Olympic Games at stake.

Sluggish starts
Both sides failed to reach the semi-finals having finished third in their groups, with neither able to recover from taking only one point from their first two fixtures. Although Portugal overwhelmed Israel 4-0 in their concluding Group A tie and Italy defeated the Czech Republic 3-1, their four-point totals kept them out of the top two. Normally that would have spelt the end but a reprieve was provided by England's progress to the last four; as Stuart Pearce's team will not compete in Beijing, Portugal and Italy have another chance to keep Olympic ambitions alive.

'Kind of final'
It is an opportunity both are determined to grasp, although history is on Italy's side. The most successful Olympic football team having taken part in 14 tournaments, the Azzurrini were bronze medallists in Athens three years ago and have also won seven of their eleven competitive U21 matches against Portugal. Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi treats such statistics with disdain, however, saying: "I don't care about the past. This is a special game, a kind of final. It is not followed by another match, it is not a group game and like all finals it will be decisive on its own, so it is useless to look at statistics. It will depend entirely on what happens during the game.

'Special players'
"Portugal are a completely different team to those we have played so far; they have a lot of quality and are technically and physically very strong," continued Casiraghi, who is likely to have captain Giorgio Chiellini and Luca Cigarini available after both shook off knocks. "They have skilful players like [Jo?o] Moutinho and Nani and strong midfielders in [Miguel] Veloso and [Manuel] Fernandes so we're quite well matched. We'll study them thoroughly as always but we have our style and some special players. We have to play independently from our opponents, because our players will always keep their own qualities."

Italian approach
Portugal coach Jos? Couceiro has also studied the opposition in depth and believes his charges can use what has long been considered a traditionally Italian approach against its inventors. "Tactical preparation has improved on our part and many in Portugal may call it a lack of ambition," he said. "Well, that's what Italians have always done, they have studied the game since they were young. They know that there are moments when you don't take risks and just control the game. It will be a very even contest."

'New objective'
Portugal have played in only three Olympics, although two of those participations came in 1996 and 2004, and they finished fourth in the former competition - their best performance to date. "I've protected the players by saying publicly that we wanted to reach the semi-finals and the Olympics," added Couceiro, who is set to risk Nani and Ricardo Vaz T? despite niggling injuries. "But they knew that we wanted much more. Unfortunately we couldn't reach that goal and now we have this new objective, qualifying for Beijing. We will do our best to get there."

 

[sardius]

Flapjack, check out Rosenborg- Lillestr?m in Norway - Tippeligaen.
After Lillestr?m loss at Bergen to Brann 3-1, they've suffered a very disappointing loss to V?lerenga at home 1-0. But they are a very strong team. 3 losses in the row for Lillestr?m??? No WAY!!!

Backing Lillestr?m +? -120 big time!!!:142smilie

1-1 :00hour $$$

 

[sardius]

Yeah, Portugal- Italy...:mj07:

 

[sardius]

Portugal will be missing suspended striker Almeida and 3 regulars Ricardo Vaz Te, Nani and Manuel Costa have some injury problems. :shrug:

Italy- Portugal 2-1 :mj03: perhaps...

 

[flapjack]

Alright, I'm on Lillestrom.

Also, taking Italy Pk and Italy ML and a tad on Italy U2.5 - they might play a little different given the circumstances/motivation, but with the way these 2 teams have been playing, like the under if they play anywhere near the same.

 

[sardius]

Another e.t. in Holland. Good luck to Italy in Chinese Olympics. Lost on overs and won on Lillestr?m.