Snak

Copa Bridgestone Libertadores: two games open crucial week

Nacional and Oriente Petrolero play for a spot in the next round

Nacional of Uruguay and Bolivia´s Oriente Petrolero collide in Montevideo on Tuesday to define a place in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores, in a match that has the Albiverdes a step ahead thanks to the win in the first leg 1-0.

The match will be held in the Parque Central stadium starting at 9:00 pm local time (23h00 GMT) and the winner of the series will qualify to Group 6 with Newell´s Old Boys, Brazil´s Gremio and Atletico Nacional of Colombia.

National -three-time winner of the Libertadores, the last time in 1988- is coming off a debut win against Racing (2-0) in the 2014 Clausura tournament in Uruguay.

For that match, the tricolor coach Gerardo Pelusso opted to start some of the youngsters in order to protect several starters for the match against Oriente.

Pelusso reiterated that "in the short term, the most important thing for us is Tuesday´s game to see if we continue in the tournament."

The experienced coach, who led the Paraguayan national team in the World Cup qualifiers for Brazil-2014, will probably start Peruvian Rinaldo Cruzado, who came on in the second half of the first leg, and Rafael Garcia in the middle of the field.

In attack, striker Ivan Alonso will be pushing forward.

Those directed by Uruguayan Tabaré Silva will be determined to defend their victory in the first leg and join their compatriots Bolivar and The Strongest who are waiting in the group stage.

"We will try to do things our way, the team should be well focused, that will be critical," said defender Miguel Hoyos to reporters minutes before heading to the Uruguayan capital on Monday morning.

The delegation includes Alcides Peña, who is recovering from an injury that could keep him out of the match.

In this regard, the coach said the player "has trained normally, but we have to wait until the last minute to see if he is included or not."

Peña stressed that his team travels "with one objective. We know it will be hard but this is football..."

Silva -former coach of Defensor Sporting of Uruguay- did not confirm the team that will face the Albos, but according to local media it will be very similar to the team that took the field in the first leg.

The match will be refereed by Ecuadorian Carlos Vera, assisted on the lines by compatriots Byron Romero and Fernando Falce.

Probable starting lineups:

Nacional: Gustavo Munúa - Pablo Álvarez, Andrés Scotti, Guillermo De los Santos, Juan Manuel Díaz - Rafael García, Rinaldo Cruzado, Richard Porta, Gonzalo Ramos Carlos De Pena or Gastón Pereiro - Iván Alonso. COACH: Gerardo Pelusso.

Oriente Petrolero: Carlos Arias - Miguel Hoyos, Ronald Raldes, Wilder Zabala, Mariano Brau, Marvin Bejarano - Gualberto Mojica, Dany Bejarano, Alejandro Meleán - Juan Quero or Alcides Peña y Yasmani Duk. COACH: Tabaré Silva.



Santa Fe will face Morelia who has the advantage

Independiente Santa Fe will seek this Tuesday in Bogota to reverse the 2-1 lead that the Monarcas of Morelia (Mexico) got in the first leg.

The club from the Colombian capital comes at a good time for the match to be played at El Campin Stadium at 8:30 pm local time (01h30 GMT Wednesday), thanks to their triumph over the weekend against Fortaleza who is co-leader in the local championship.

"We believe that we can come back," said coach Wilson Gutiérrez, who hopes to use multiple passes and deep passes to Argentine midfielder Omar Pérez and Ecuadorian Edison Mendez.

However, ´Leon´ will not have it easy against the Mexicans, who after a series of adverse outcomes in recent months seem to be recovered under the technical direction of newcomer Eduardo de la Torre.

Morelia hopes to be tight defensively without completely getting away from their attack.

"It´s always good not to lose, we never think of losing, on the contrary we take the game to the opposition and look to win. Sometimes we win sometimes not, that´s the reality, but the team will improve," said Christián Valdez before traveling to Bogota.

Meanwhile, defender Joel Huiqui said he will not betray how they play football, where Morelia will seek to win because "a difference of one goal is very little."

The Colombians will have 35 thousand fans supporting them to get a clean sheet which would ensure their passage to the group stage.

The Mexicans, who tied the Leon 0-0 Friday in the domestic tournament, will be without their defensive leader, Panamanian Felipe Baloy, who is injured.

The winner of this series will be placed in Group 4 alongside the reigning Libertadores champions, Atlético Mineiro of Brazil, Paraguay´s Nacional and Zamora of Venezuela.

The game will be under the direction of Bolivian referee Raul Orosco, assisted by his compatriots Efrain Castro and Arol Valda.

Probable starting lineups:

Independiente Santa Fe: Camilo Vargas - José Julián De la Cuesta, Francisco Meza, Yerry Mina, Sergio Otálvaro - Daniel Torres, Manuel Seijas, Omar Pérez, Edison Méndez - Luis Carlos Arias and Wilder Medina.

COACH: Wilson Gutiérrez.

Morelia: Felipe Rodríguez - Ignacio González, Joel Huiqui, Rodrigo Salinas, Armando Zamorano - Carlos Adrián Morales, Christian Valdez, Aldo Leao Ramírez, Jefferson Montero - Héctor Mancilla and Duvier Riascos.

COACH: Eduardo de la Torre.

Guatemala 4 - Runde..

Fire mål af Kamiani Félix i 5-0 sejr over Marquense sikrer USAC en øjeblikkelig førsteplads.

http://www.youtube.com/w…V20FP9gEm7Q


Førstepladsen deles med de forsvarende mestre fra Comunicaciones som på mål af Rafael Morales og Jorge "El Machete" Contreras vandt 2-1 over Mictlan.


http://www.youtube.com/w…pv-b0-2djaA

Suchitepequez og Xelaju hentede begge 1-0 sejre over Coatepeque og Malacateco.


http://www.youtube.com/w…V20FP9gEm7Q


http://www.youtube.com/w…htn0lU-kxjE

Municipal fortsætter deres skuffende sæsonstart og må nøjes med 1-1 ude mod Iztapa, mens honduransk fødte Ovidio Isaula scorede alle 4 mål for Heredia i 4-0 sejren over Halcones.

http://www.youtube.com/w…GxZqfNkbYMk

http://www.youtube.com/w…c4-overview


Honduras - 5 Runde.

Clasico-runde i San Pedro Sula og Tegucigalpa.

Carlo Costly sikrede mestrene fra Real España 1-1 i kampen mod lokal rivalerne fra Marathon, mens Olimpia og Motagua spillede 0-0 i Hovedstaden.

http://www.youtube.com/w…pdslZeCPm9w

Real Sociedad udnyttede de 2 uafgjorte resultater til at overtage førstepladsen i ligaen med 2-0 sejr over VIDA på mål af angriberne Hans Martinez og Juan Munguía

http://www.youtube.com/w…c4-overview

Georgie Welcome hentet i Motagua scorede det enlige mål da Platense slog Parrillas One i Puerto Cortés.

http://www.youtube.com/w…tIUgENYnbjc

Endelig slog Savio Victoría med 2-1 i Copán.

http://www.youtube.com/w…C5FUV6IbG9o


Panama 3 - Runde

Fernando Mena, Federico Marines og César Medina sikrede med hver en scoring Alianza en 3-1 sejr over Chorrillo FC og en først plads i ligaen.

2 padsen indehaves af Arabe Unido som slog San Francisco med 1-0 , Joel Barcenas blev matchvinder kort før pausen.

http://www.youtube.com/w…YMgFjFdjy3U

2 x 0-0 i Chepo - Plaza Amador og CAI - Rio Abajo.

Endelig lukkede Turo og San MIguelito runden af med 2-2 i den sene kamp.

http://www.youtube.com/w…7kz7-BLS01I

lidt mål fra runden

http://www.youtube.com/w…PC01-mOm3wQ

Porto no incluyó a Nicolás Otamendi en su lista para la Europa League

PORTO -- El zaguero argentino Nicolás Otamendi quedó afuera de la lista que presentó el club portugués Porto FC para la disputa de la Europa League.

Otamendi, quien hasta ahora era titular indiscutido en el equipo blanquiazul, hasta hace poco fue mencionado en varias operaciones internacionales que no prosperaron.

El marcador central argentino, quien disputó el Mundial de Sudáfrica 2010, interesaba a varios clubes europeos, entre ellos el Zenit de Rusia, donde el libro de pases cierra a fines de febrero.

Según el diario portugués O Jogo, el Porto no incluyó a Otamendi en la lista para la Europa League por considerar que el futbolista ya estaría cedido al Valencia de España por un preacuerdo cerrado antes del pasado 31 de enero.

Según este periódico, el Valencia no inscribió a Otamendi por tener tres extracomunitarios en su plantel, el límite máximo permitido en España, pero en sus manos está el futuro del futbolista, que podría ser cedido hasta junio.

El jugador argentino, de 25 años, cumple con ésta su cuarta temporada en el Porto, y durante la primera vuelta había jugado una veintena de encuentros, todos ellos como titular.

A la baja de Otamendi se suma la de su compatriota Luis "Lucho" González (que fichó por el Al Rayyan de Qatar).

Soccer Roundup: Palestino stumbles while Colo Colo can’t stop scoring

Católica puts five past early leader Palestino, ‘Los Albos’ run riot over Huachipato, while ‘La U’ and O’Higgins keep it tight at the top of the Clausura.

Colo Colo 5 – 3 Huachipato

Colo Colo’s rampage continues. The team netted five goals for the second week running against Huachipato on Sunday, registering a fourth win in five games and pulling two points clear at the top of the table.

During a disappointing Apertura, Colo Colo often played some of the most dangerous attacking soccer in the league, though a fractious dressing room and litany of on field errors saw the team implode against lesser opposition on too many occasions. While the defensive deficiencies that contributed in large part to that eighth placed finish remain, Chile’s most successful club is brimming with confidence for the first time in years and shows no signs of slowing down.

Notable among those enjoying a purple patch is Emiliano Vecchio. Since signing from Unión Espñola last year, the midfielder has established himself as the creative linchpin in Colo Colo’s attack, and with three in has last four games this season the Argentine is fast becoming the complete package.

Hat tips to Vecchio aside, Esteban Paredes recaptured both the hearts of the Colo Colo faithful and the headlines with a barnstorming performance that included a hat-trick on his old stomping ground. Having sold the striker to Mexican club Querétaro FC last year for US$2 million, welcoming Paredes back to his spiritual home for half that amount this month seems a shrewd bit of business by Colo Colo.

On Huachipato’s part, suffering such a heavy loss was a rude awakening following recent success in the Copa Chile semifinals. One win in five league games is far from the form Mario Salas needs to steer his new club away from the drop zone, and if Sunday’s shoddy defensive display is anything to go by the Chilean has his work cut out for him.

Keeper Nery Veloso should have kept out the opener — a low free kick from Paredes in the 11th minute — and while Vecchio’s volleyed finish 20 minutes later was nothing short of sublime he too easily trotted in behind the backline to receive a cross over the top.

Paredes piled on the misery in the 39th minute, expertly heading home midfielder Felipe Flores’ inviting cross from wide left. Just before the break the visitors pulled one back from the spot via midfielder Francisco Arrué and a contested refereeing decision, and center forward Lucas Simón’s brilliant headed goal on 54 minutes had “Los Albos” briefly panicking.

Vecchio and Parades had other ideas — the former cutting Huachipato’s backline to ribbons with a deadly diagonal through ball, the latter bundling home his third of the match in comedic albeit effective fashion.

Embattled Argentine Mauro Olivi got involved in injury time — the right winger burst into tears following his lovely chipped effort, overcome with emotion after scoring his first goal in a year in front of his visiting family.

Simón bagged his brace at the death, turning in the rebound after a fine save from Justo Villar, and the third goal raises question marks about Colo Colo’s back line — a visible chink in the armor of this early season title favorite. Should newly acquired defender Julio Barroso assert his organizational acumen that was so essential to O’Higgins’ title winning season, the sleeping giant may just awaken.

Huachipato is 15th.

Universidad Católica 5 – 3 Palestino

Católica knocked Palestino off its perch at the top of the Clausura in a furious, fast-paced goal-fest Friday. The win puts last season’s runner up level on points with highflying Palestino, and will boost Católica following a run of three games without a win in all competitions.

New coach Rodrigo Astudillo was satisfied by the win though worried about what he identified as a naive focus on goal getting.

“All were eager to go out and win, and that may explain some of the defensive disorder, but generally it all went well,” he said to press following the victory.

Católica’s new attacking midfielder Darío Bottinelli — on loan from Brazilian club Coritiba — opened his account in the seventh minute via the spot after a handball in the technical area. His strike was briefly cancelled out just minutes later by Nicolás Suárez’s header, though once again the Argentine bashed home a penalty following fullback Miguel Escalona’s foul on striker Matías Jadue on the quarter hour mark.

Palestino came to play however, and ran Católica ragged on the break, eventually equalizing though Chilean forward Renato Ramos on 21 minutes. Twenty two exhausted men exited the pitch at half time — half of them defiantly sporting a glittering map of pre-partition Palestine on their shirts as they headed down the tunnel alongside “Los Cruzados.”

Only the players know exactly what Astudillo said during his team talk, though it must have been nothing short of inspirational, as Católica sprang out from the blocks and devastated Palestino with three goals in 12 minutes.

The first was an early “goal of the season” contender from Fernando Cordero. Collecting the ball near the halfway line, the midfielder ran into space before belting a 35-yard screamer into the top right off the crossbar, Felipe Nuñez’s attempts at a save mere fantasy the moment the ball left Cordero’s boot.

Five minutes later midfielder Fernando Meneses finished off a darting run across the face of goal with an accomplished left-foot strike into the bottom right, while Palestino was awfully unlucky to concede a fifth on 64 minutes when defender Rodrigo Riquelme’s clearance bounced improbably back into the goal off left winger Ramiro Costa. Ramos picked up a brace via a header on 80 minutes, though Católica weathered a ten minute siege laid on by the traveling opposition and the game ended 5-3.

Católica rises to fourth, one spot behind Palestino on goal difference.

Antofagasta 1 – 3 Universidad de Chile

Following a home defeat to Palestino and a surprise loss away to Cobresal, “La U” registered its second consecutive league win with a convincing victory over Antofagasta on Sunday.

No one likes visiting the Atacama for an afternoon game at this time of year, though the visiting side did well to control the tempo of the match before Ramón Fernández’s opener on 43 minutes — a curling, peach of a free kick into the top left.

The home team levelled after the break — suspect defending allowed defender Erick Pulgar’s long ball to fall to Michael Silva, though that should take nothing away from the striker’s delightful lob over the top of a flailing Johnny Herrera.

The visitors stuck to their game plan however, and with 20 minutes to play a trademark “La U” swift web of passes preceded Patricio Rubio’s thunderous half volley from ten yards. The striker grabbed another in injury time, evading two defenders with a brilliant dribble on the edge of the technical area before arrowing a blistering effort into the top right. The ball sailed through a hole in the goal and into the stands, ensuring Sunday will go down in “La U” folklore as the day Pato Rubio broke the net.

Universidad de Chile sits in fifth, while Antofagasta remains mid-table at 11th.

O’Higgins 2 – 0 Santiago Wanderers

Defending champion O’Higgins briefly went top of the table with a win over Wanderers on Saturday, though home fans had to wait over an hour for a lethargic encounter to get going.

Both sides seemed sapped by sweltering conditions in Estadio Monumental, and O’Higgins did little with the majority of possession. Wanderers, for their part, were incredibly wasteful across the midfield, and all too reliant in the second half on keeper Mauricio Viana — stops to deny striker Pablo Calandria and Chile international Pablo Hernández were particularly impressive.

O’Higgins midfielder Braulio Leal tested the woodwork on the hour mark, and the close call inspired a late surge from the home team. Defender Albert Acevedo headed in a corner on 70 minutes, and Leal produced a delicate back-heeled assist in the middle of a one-two with fullback Luis Figueroa whose controlled shot killed the game of with three minutes to play.

Wanderers are 13th, while O’Higgins’ title defence remains on track with 11 points in second spot.

Universidad Concepción 2 – 3 Everton

The first match in the Clausura’s fifth round Friday saw Everton gain its first win of the season against Universidad Concepción.

Everton began the match all guns blazing, knowing that a win could be a launchpad for a season in which it had so far failed to gain a single point, let alone score a goal.

The visiting players’ early energy and determination certainly paid dividends as they netted twice within the first ten minutes, stunning the home side in the process.

After right midfielder Jorge Romo was released down his flank, striker Matías Donoso got beyond his marker and met Romo’s cross with an unstoppable header into the top corner after just four minutes.

Everton was rewarded again for its positive approach, grabbing a second goal less than five minutes later through a superb bicycle kick by defender Orlando Gutiérrez.

Far from trying to protect its lead, Everton started the second half in a similar manner. Another fine display of skill gave the team its third goal, coming from a cheeky lob by midfielder Ángel Rojas after he was played in by attacker Luciano Leguizamon.

The inevitable resurgence from the home side eventually arrived, closing the gap in the 75th minute through a cute finish by striker Gabriel Vargas after Everton goalkeeper Gustavo Dalsasso had spilled Héctor Berríos’ shot.

Concepción continued to pile forward against a nervy Everton side and found a second goal as Sixto Peralta buried a header past Dalsasso in the 85th minute.

Despite a tense end to the match, Everton managed to hang onto its lead until the final whistle, giving the side a vital three points and a huge psychological boost ahead of its match against Antofagasta next week.

Everton closed the gap on those above it but remains at the bottom of the table, while Universidad de Concepción slipped to sixth place with nine points.

Unión Española 3 – 2 Ñublense

Saturday’s brace by striker Carlos Salom guided Unión Española to its third win on the trot against a battling Ñublense side.

It took 38 minutes for Española to unlock a stubborn Ñublense defence — Argentine striker Carlos Salom found the net with a trademark poacher’s effort, firing in a point-blank header to put his team in front.

Some woeful defending from Ñublense allowed Salom to double the host’s lead on the stroke of halftime as he found himself in acres of space in the six-yard box and tapped in at the near post.

Ñublense responded positively in the second half, pulling an early goal back through a header by striker Luciano Vásquez. If the finish was precise, finding the inside of the far post, the inviting ball from midfielder Mirko Opazo was exquisite.

However, Ñublense’s concentration quickly lapsed as three minutes later goalkeeper Lucas Giovini misread a cross, allowing midfielder Matías Campos Toro to head into an empty net from the far post.

The Argentine attacker Miguel Ángel Alba again reduced the deficit on 82 minutes with a well-struck shot through a wall of players from just outside the box, but Ñublense failed to find the equaliser.

Defeat for Ñublense continues a worrying patch of form that sees it languishing in 17th place. Meanwhile, Unión Española is now five points off the top, in eighth place with eight points.

Cobreloa 2 – 0 Audax Italiano

Cobreloa made it four matches unbeaten in a professional performance Sunday as the team beat Audax Italiano 2-0.

Italiano was unlucky not to open the scoring early in the match as Iván Vásquez rattled the crossbar with a rocket from 25 yards.

However, it was Cobreloa who drew first blood as Álvaro López got between two defenders and steered a fine header past goalkeeper Jaime Bravo in the 20th minute.

Midfielder Gabriel Méndez was at his creative best for Cobreloa’s second goal, creating and finishing a move that doubled his team’s advantage with 20 minutes remaining. A neat one-two with striker José Luis Jiménez, who showed great strength to shake off his marker in the box, setup Méndez for a low drive into the far corner of the goal.

With this strong display, Cobreloa climbed to seventh in the league on eight points. Audax Italiano remains on five points and languishing at 12th position.

Unión La Calera 0 – 2 Iquique

Iquique leapfrogged Unión La Calera in the league after a convincing 2-0 victory Saturday over the home side’s 10 men.

La Calera made life difficult for itself after Mario Berríos was shown a straight red card in the eighth minute. Despite this early setback, the home side could go into the halftime break happy with its display, having come closer to opening the scoring than Iquique.

The introduction of Argentine midfielder Rodrigo Díaz at the start of the second half greatly boosted Iquique, who started to turn the screw against a tiring La Calera side. This increased pressure saw captain and defender Hugo Bascuñán haul down Iquique striker Gerson Martínez on the edge of the box. Díaz stepped up, firing the resulting free kick into the side netting past the motionless La Calera goalkeeper, Juan Marcelo Ojeda.

Díaz was also involved in the second goal, beating his man in midfield by pushing his first touch into space before lifting a pass through for striker Martínez, who skilfully lofted the ball over the onrushing Ojeda into the empty net for his first goal of the Clausura.

Having built a two-goal advantage, Iquique was happy to play the rest of the match at a slow and controlled tempo. This victory puts them into ninth in the league, one point and one place ahead of La Calera.

Cobresal 2 – 2 Rangers

Cobresal drew with Rangers in a four-goal Sunday thriller that leaves both teams at the lower end of the table.

The home team started positively and took the lead in the 18th minute through defender Michael Contreras. Arriving late at the back post, Contreras latched on to midfielder Hans Salinas’ cross and showed great composure with a half-volley into the roof of the net from close range.

However, a calmly converted penalty midway through the first half by Rangers striker Mauricio Gómez meant the sides entered the break on level terms.

Rangers then took the lead on 72 minutes as Gómez capitalised on Cobresal’s failure to deal with a long ball, neatly slotting the ball past goalkeeper Sebastián Cuerdo.

This lead proved to be fragile as the away side was left exposed after striker Sebastián Domínguez was sent off with a second yellow card just three minutes later. Indeed, it was substitute Patricio Jerez who made Cobresal’s numerical advantage count in the 84th minute. Within two minutes of coming on, midfielder Jerez cut in from the right, shrugged off two defenders and found the top corner of the net with a superb strike. Despite pushing for a winner, Cobresal failed to find a winner in the final minutes of the match.

The result means both teams remain level on points in the league, but with Rangers 14th and Cobresal 16th on goal difference.

Clausura upcoming fixtures
Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m.: Rangers vs. Cobreloa
Feb. 7, 9 p.m.: Audax Italiano vs. Unión La Calera
Feb. 8, 4 p.m.: Cobresal vs. Universidad Católica
Feb. 8. 6:30 p.m.: Palestino vs. O’Higgins
Feb. 8, 9 p.m.: Everton vs. Antofagasta
Feb. 9, 4:30 p.m.: Santiago Wanderers vs. Universidad de Chile
Feb. 9, 5 p.m.: Huachipato vs. Iquique
Feb. 9, 6 p.m.: Ñublense vs. Universidad Concepción


http://www.cdf.cl/videos/

River: Matías Kranevitter será dado de alta y será evaluado para el debut

BUENOS AIRES -- El mediocampista de River Plate Matías Kranevitter será dado de alta en la tarde del martes luego de permanecer más de un día internado debido a un cuadro de "fiebre y fuertes dolores estomacales", y será evaluado por el cuerpo médico del club para determinar si estará a disposición de Ramón Díaz para recibir a Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.

"Está internado todavía pero recuperado y suponemos que le dan el alta del sanatorio esta tarde (martes)", dijo el médico del club de Núñez Rafael Giulietti en una entrevista televisiva.

Giulietti contó que "el cuadro se desencadenó ayer por la mañana" y, como "los síntomas se manifestaron en forma muy intensa, lo internaron para estabilizarlo e hidratarlo".

El médico explicó que evaluarán a Kranevitter en las próximas horas y se estima que recién ahí podrán determinar si estará a disposición del entrenador para el debut en el Torneo Final.

Por su parte, Giulietti detalló que el volante colombiano Carlos Carbonero sufrió "un golpe en la rodilla y cuando finalizó el partido (el sábado ante Boca) estaba con molestias, pero está evolucionando bien, haciendo kinesiología y mañana lo vamos a evaluar". River recibirá el domingo a Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, a partir de las 21.30 y con arbitraje de Pablo Lunatti.

Matos trabajó aparte en All Boys y se iría a San Lorenzo

BUENOS AIRES -- El delantero Mauros Matos se entrenó el martes de manera diferenciada en All Boys y en las próximas horas podría convertirse en flamante refuerzo de San Lorenzo.

Matos llegó a un acuerdo con los dirigentes del Ciclón pero todavía aguarda por la respuesta del club de Floresta, dueño de la mayor parte de su pase, aunque en las próximas se resolvería su situación.

Que el delantero nacido en Castelli haya entrenado de manera diferenciada parece todo un síntoma de que dificilmente continúa en el club.

El técnico de San Lorenzo, Edgardo Bauza, evitó hablar sobre el posible desembarco de Matos, aunque admitió la intención de sumar un centrodelantero, debido a que el único en el puesto es Nicolás Blandi.

Bauza define el equipo y espera por Matos

BUENOS AIRES -- El plantel de San Lorenzo practicó en la mañana del martes en su estadio de cara al debut por el Torneo Final. Edgardo Bauza dispuso de una práctica de fútbol en la cual paró el equipo base que iría desde el arranque ante Olimpo de Bahía Blanca, el viernes a las 21.30, en el Estadio Roberto Carminatti.

Los once que jugaron para los titulares en el ensayo fueron: Sebastián Torrico, Julio Buffarini, Pablo Alvarado, Santiago Gentiletti, Emanuel Más; Juan Mercier, Néstor Ortigoza; Angel Correa, Leandro Romagnoli, Ignacio Piatti; Nicolás Blandi. En definitiva, esta formación es la que mantuvo el entrenador a lo largo del verano y, de no mediar ningún inconveniente, será la que inicie el encuentro ante los de Walter Perazzo.

En otro orden, en San Lorenzo aún aguardan una respuesta de parte de All Boys por Mauro Matos. El delantero tiene todo arreglado de palabra con el club de Boedo, el cual ofertó 2 millones de pesos por la totalidad del pase. En el transcurso del martes podría haber una definición.

Por su parte, el capitán Alvarado podría perderse el debut por la Copa Libertadores, ante Botafogo o Deportivo Quito los ecuatorianos vencieron 1 a 0 en la ida y el miércoles juegan la revancha en Brasil-, programado para el martes 11 de febrero. El defensor recibió tres fechas de suspensión tras su expulsión ante River por la Copa Sudamericana pasada, aunque en las próximas horas el club recibirá la confirmación de parte de la Conmebol, tratándose de dos competencias distintas.

El campeón defensor del fútbol argentino volverá a entrenarse el miércoles para ir ultimando detalles de cara al comienzo de la competencia oficial. En un semestre con triple competencia, pondrá su principal foco en la Copa Libertadores, torneo que nunca pudo ganar y que en 2009 tuvo su última participación.

Boca hace la puesta a punto con trabajos diferenciados

BUENOS AIRES -- La mayor parte del plantel de fútbol del club Boca Juniors concurrió en la mañana del martes a la Reserva Ecológica de la Costanera Sur para desarrollar un trabajo físico.

Sin embargo permanecieron en el complejo Pedro Pompilio Agustín Orion, Fernando Gago, Juan Román Riquelme, Cristian Erbes y Nicolás Colazo.

De acuerdo con la condición física de cada uno de los futbolistas, el cuerpo técnico encabezado por Carlos Bianchi determinó qué tipo de actividad le correspondía.

A Gago, en los últimos días, no se lo sobrecarga con labores musculares y ya en la última excursión anterior a la Reserva no había ido pero las tareas futbolísticas las desarrolla a pleno y será titular el próximo domingo ante Newell´s.

Orion se quedó en Casa Amarilla para llevar a cabo movimientos específicos de arquero a las órdenes de Rubén Sánchez y también integrará el equipo en Rosario.

Asimismo, a Erbes, candidato a estar entre los suplentes, se lo está relevando de algunos ejercicios físicos, mientras que Colazo desde hace algunos días trabaja diferenciado por un golpe en la tibia derecha.

En cuanto a Riquelme, después de haber presentado una gastroenteritis, reanudó la actividad pero se avanza en su recuperación con muchas precauciones y está casi descartado para el partido con Newell´s.

Los jugadores que viajaron a Salta para el amistoso frente a Gimnasia y Tiro emprendieron el regreso por la mañana y se les dio el resto del día libre, por lo que la totalidad del plantel volverá a reunirse en el entrenamiento del miércoles.

La más probable formación de Boca para la primera fecha del torneo Final es la misma del pasado sábado ante River Plate en Mendoza, es decir: Orion; Hernán Grana, Daniel Díaz, Juan Forlín, Nahuel Zárate; Gago, Pablo Ledesma; Juan Martínez, Luciano Acosta, Juan Sánchez Miño; y Emmanuel Gigliotti.

Racing: Merlo tiene los once para el debut

BUENOS AIRES -- A cuatro días del debut de Racing en el Torneo Final, Reinaldo Merlo programó una nueva práctica de fútbol y en la misma dejó en claro cuál es el once que tiene en mente de cara al próximo campeonato.

Una vez más, puso en cancha la alineación que tanto éxito le dio en el verano y, nuevamente, la misma rindió ya que goleó por 4 a 1 a un combinado de jugadores suplentes, con goles de Valentín Viola, Rodrigo De Paul y Gabriel Hauche, en dos oportunidades, mientras que Vietto descontó para el conjunto alternativo.

La alineación que puso Merlo tuvo, una vez más, a: Sebastián Saja; José Luis Gómez, Esteban Saveljich, Fernando Ortiz, Matías Cahais; Gastón Campi; Diego Villar, Bruno Zuculini, Rodrigo De Paul; Gabriel Hauche y Valentín Viola.

Mientras tanto, los suplentes formaron con: Nelson Ibáñez; Ismael, Quílez, Yonathan Cabral, Gabriel Migliónico, Claudio Corvalán; Luciano Aued, Mauro Camoranesi, Alejandro García, Luis Ibáñez, Luciano Vietto y Wason Rentería.

Racing, que en el actual mercado de pases solamente sumo al colombiano Rentería, busca cerrar en las próximas horas la llegada de su segundo refuerzo. El nombre apuntado sigue siendo Francisco Cerro, con quien resta llegar a un acuerdo en cuanto a la longitud del contrato.

Carbonero, en duda para el debut de River

BUENOS AIRES -- Tras un receso de verano ideal, se acabó el paraíso para River ya que de cara al comienzo del Torneo Final 2014, no está confirmada la presencia de Carlos Carbonero en el partido del próximo domingo ante Gimnasia, en el estadio Monumental.

El mediocampista colombiano, vital en el novedoso esquema de Ramón Díaz, padece una molestia en la rodilla en la rodilla izquierda y, tras someterse a una serie de estudios, trabajó de manera diferenciada realizando ejercicios de kinesiología.

En caso de no llegar en condiciones, el cuerpo técnico maneja la posibilidad de que Juan Carlos Menseguez sea su reemplazante, aunque no se descarta a otros nombres como Augusto Solari y Daniel Villalba.

En la mañana del martes, el plantel de River, a las órdenes de Emiliano Díaz, realizó fútbol en espacios reducidos y la novedad pasó por la participación de Federico Andrada, ya recuperado de la lesión que lo mantuvo al margen durante gran parte del verano.

Mientras tanto, un plantel alternativo, dirigido por Ramón Díaz, y con las participaciones especiales de Marcelo Barovero, Éder Álvarez Balanta y Fernando Cavenaghi, se encuentran en San Luis para disputar en la noche del martes un partido amistoso ante un combinado de dicha provincia.

Los tres futbolistas titulares ocuparán un lugar en el banco de suplentes y, de esta forma, la alineación inicial sería: Leandro Chichizola; Germán Pezzella, Emanuel Mamanna, Ramiro Funes Mori; Augusto Solari, Cristian Ledesma, Ariel Rojas, Osmar Ferreyra; Jonathan Fabbro; Daniel Villalva y Lucas Pugh.

River, que debutará el próximo domingo ante Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, negocia la llegada de un tercer refuerzo ya que, tras el arribo de Fernando Cavenaghi y Bruno Uribarri, tiene un cupo extra debido a que el defensor zurdo llegó desde Colón tras quedar libre por falta de pago. Uno de los nombres en carpeta era Guido Pizarro. Sin embargo, el exvolante de Lanús quedó descartado y se analizan otras posibilidades.