Snak

og så lidt godt nyt til San lorenzo fans....Piatti ser ud til at være tilbage...

I. Piatti trabajó a la par del resto

BUENOS AIRES -- San Lorenzo, ensombrecido por los nubarrones del descenso directo luego de empatar sin goles con Godoy Cruz de Mendoza, inició su semana de trabajo con una tarea física, bajo la llovizna, en el estadio Nuevo Gasómetro.

La rutina, supervisada por el DT Juan Antonio Pizzi y el manager Bernardo Romeo, consistió en pasadas de velocidad, a diferente intensidad, por el perímetro de la cancha.

Del trabajo participó, sin diferenciación, el mediocampista Ignacio Piatti, que se recupera de un desgarro sufrido hace tres fechas ante Racing en Avellaneda.

Luego de ese ejercicio, el plantel se trasladó a una cancha de césped sintético de la Ciudad Deportiva para trabajar con el preparador físico Alejandro Richino.

San Lorenzo cayó en zona de descenso el sábado pasado en Mendoza, en el debut de Pizzi, luego de sumar su quinto partido sin ganar y tercero sucesivo sin anotar goles.

La próxima fecha su rival será Quilmes, también con objetivos de permanencia, en un partido que se jugará en el Gasómetro, el sábado a las 14, por la duodécima fecha del torneo Inicial.

Lidt tro på tingene vedrørende et potentielt mesterskab til Racing fra Javier Cámpora.

Cámpora: "Racing tiene una identidad"

BUENOS AIRES -- El delantero Javier Cámpora afirmó, tras el empate con Newell´s Old Boys, que "Racing tiene una identidad" y "la ilusión de llegar a las últimas fechas peleando el campeonato".

"Somos concientes de que enfrentamos al puntero, un equipo que esta ratificando en este torneo lo que ya había insinuado en el anterior y cuenta con otro rodaje", señaló.

Sin embargo, sostuvo que "hoy Racing tiene una identidad; es bastante sólido y en el juego está yendo de menos a más con la ilusión de llegar a las últimas fechas peleando el campeonato".

A su vez, consideró que el planchazo que su compañero Mauro Camoranesi le infligió a Gabriel Heinze no fue premeditado: "Por lo poco que conozco a Mauro, no creo que haya ido con mala intención. Levantó un poco la pierna, pero son cosas del partido. Chocaron dos titanes", declaró en una entrevista televisiva.

Sin embargo, el presidente del Colegio de Arbitros, Francisco Lamolina, sentenció que "fue una locura" por parte del ex Juventus, merecedora de una tarjeta "súper roja". Cámpora consideró que si bien el empate "fue justo", Racing tuvo "más llegada que Newell´s pese a que maneja muy bien la pelota, y lo pudo haber ganado".

Con el empate sin goles, el cuadro de Avellaneda quedó como único escolta, a dos puntos de la cima.

En la próxima fecha "La Academia visitará a Vélez Sarsfield, en tanto los dirigidos por Gerardo Martino recibirán a Arsenal, el último campeón.

Cámpora expresó que "todo tiene otra dimensión en un equipo grande y hacía falta tiempo para acomodarse", quizá el que necesitó para ganarle el puesto nada menos que a José Sand.

"Todos nos sentimos importantes. En este momento me toca jugar a mí y siento por parte de ´Pepe´ y ´Gaby´ (Hauche) el mismo apoyo que les brindé yo cuando llegué. En Huracán no habían salido bien las cosas a nivel grupal y tuve una lesión que me impidió jugar el primer semestre, por lo que vivo esto como una revancha", concluyó.

og så lidt mere Boca vs river lir fra Guillermo Burdisso.

Burdisso: "Hay que cortar esta racha"

BUENOS AIRES -- El marcador central de Boca Juniors, Guillermo Burdisso, resaltó en la noche del domingo que el fin de semana próximo procurarán vencer a River Plate en el Monumental porque "es un superclásico" y además desean pelear por el título en el Torneo Inicial.

"Desde que finalizó el partido ya estamos pensando en River. Llegamos bien, obviamente tenemos que seguir trabajando, muy concentrados en el partido. Sabemos que todo hincha de Boca lo quiere ganar, nosotros mismos lo queremos ganar, porque es un Superclásico y porque además queremos estar cerca de la punta", precisó Burdisso.

El ex El Porvenir, Rosario Central, Roma y Arsenal habló con los periodistas poco después de que el entrenador xeneize Julio Falcioni suspendiera la habitual conferencia de prensa posterior a los cotejos oficiales.

"De una forma o de otra, con un sistema o con otro, siempre tratamos de ir para adelante y lograr las mejores situaciones. Obviamente también depende del rival. En este partido se cambió el sistema, se cambiaron jugadores, intentamos de todas formas, pero por poco no se consiguió. Son rachas que tenés que cortar. En estos momentos el menor error siempre te perjudica, y caro", argumentó el hermano menor del actual zaguero de la Roma, el que afrontó los mundiales de Alemania 2006 y Sudáfrica 2010.

El joven zaguero puso la cara tras el empate sin goles ante Estudiantes de La Plata en La Bombonera, el que estiró la serie negativa de los auriazaules, que se extendió a cuatro fechas sin triunfos. "Hoy se trató de ganar en todos los aspectos, pero cuando la pelota no entra y por poco, sé que suena mediocre, pero el punto cuando venís en una situación como ésta vale. Hay que seguir trabajando como lo hacemos todas las semanas para mejorar", sostuvo Burdisso.

Y argumentó: "En el sentido de la actitud creo que quedó demostrado que hoy (domingo) se dejó todo en cada pelota, más como estaba la cancha. Era un partido para meter y muy difícil de jugar. Tratamos de hacer las dos cosas, pero la actitud sobesalió en todos los aspectos. Esta es la forma de encarar los partidos. No somos inocentes, sabemos que tenemos que mejorar, pero con respecto al partido con Belgrano se hicieron las cosas mucho mejor y creo que merecíamos una victoria".

Y se refirió también al remedio para esta crisis futbolística: "Hay que cortar esta racha teniendo confianza entre nosotros. Tenemos que hacer las cosas bien, no descuidarnos atrás y estar más finos adelante. Boca mejoró, no nos alcanzó para ganar, pero éste es el camino para empezar el domingo con una victoria una racha positiva".

Cerró su exposición con un mensaje optimista: "Va a ser un lindo encuentro para entrar en una racha positiva. Vamos a dejar todo como siempre y encarar una semana de la mejor manera".

Boca Juniors-River Plate: A Look into One of World Football´s Greatest Rivalries

By Yoosof Farah(Featured Columnist)

"Derby day in Buenos Aires makes the Old Firm game look like a primary school kick-about."

This was taken from English newspaper The Observer in April 2004, where the Superclásico was ranked top of their list of "50 Sporting Things You Must Do Before You Die."

El Superclásico is a derby between the two most supported and successful teams in the football crazy country of Argentina, Boca Juniors and River Plate.

It is considered one of, if not the most important, and violent, derby in the world. According to statistics, 70 percent of all Argentinian football fans support one of the two clubs.

Background

Both clubs have origins in La Boca, the working class district of Buenos Aires, with River Plate being founded in 1901, and Boca Juniors in 1905.

However, River moved north to the more affluent area of the city, Núñez, in 1925, and since then, Boca Juniors has been known as a working class club, with many Boca fans coming from the local Italian immigrant community.

By contrast, River became known as having a more upper class support-base, becoming known as Los Millonarios (The Millionaires). Nowadays however, both clubs have supporters from all social classes.

The Fans

El Superclásico is noted for the passion of both clubs´ fans. In a documentary about Argentina, the BBC described El Superclásico as:

"A sea of colourful flowing banners, screams and roars, chanting, dancing and never-ending fireworks."

At almost every match, the supporters of both sides sing some very passionate chants aimed at their rivals, and quite often their based on the tunes of popular Argentinian rock bands.

Quite often these derby matches are known to end with fights, with the ´Barras Bravas´ (football hooligans) of both sides known to fight each other, or the police.

Boca fans refer to their River Plate counterparts as gallinas (chickens), claiming they are upper class and so afraid of everything.

In return, Boca fans are known by River supporters as los puercos (pigs), because their stadium is located in the supposedly poorer area of Boca, and because according to River fans it doesn´t smell nice either.

The Players

Such is the nature of these massive derbies that even the players can be significantly affected by the rivalry.

Oscar Ruggeri, who transfered from Boca to River in 1985 said: "It´s not easy I can tell you. One side looks on you as a traitor and the other doesn´t really trust you. You need time to adapt and a lot of character to win people over."

Other players, including the all-time great Diego Maradona, have gone as far as to say they would never play for the other club.

In his playing career, while at Argentinos Juniors, Maradona said he would never even contemplate moving to River Plate, saying that the sole purpose in his playing career was to play for Boca Juniors.

Puerta 12 Tragedy

For countless years the rivalry between both sets of fans has been very, very intense, and there have been several cases of deaths and injuries as a result of fan violence.

However, there was none worse than the Puerta 12 (Gate 12) Tragedy on 23rd June 1968, where at River Plate´s El Monumental stadium, 71 Boca Juniors fans were killed in a crush at gate 12 and 150 fans injured.

The disaster was the worst football related incident in the history of Argentine football, and the majority of victims were teenagers and young adults. The average age of the victims was 19.

There have been several claims as to what exactly happened on that fateful day, with some claiming the disaster happened after Boca fans threw burning River flags from the upper tiers of the stadium, causing a stampede of their own fans in the lower tier.

Another claim is that it happened after River fans arrived at the Boca section, causing the stampede of the visiting fans.

Yet, others claim that gate 12 was locked, or would not open at the time, and that the fans at the back did not hear the ones at the front telling them to stop coming out.

William Kent, River´s former president, claimed that the police were the culprits, as they began repressing Boca fans after they had thrown urine at them from the stands. Some witnesses claim that the turnstiles to the exit were blocked by a huge iron pole.

After three years of investigation, a government enquiry found no one guilty, much to the disappointment of the families of the victims. Since the tragedy, the gates at El Monumental have been identified by letters as opposed to numbers.

At the end of the 1968 season, the 68 football clubs in the AFA (Argetine Football Association) collected $100,000 for the families of the victims.

The One Sporting Thing You Must Do Before You Die

The picture above is of Boca Juniors´s stadium La Bombonera, which every match holds 57,395 passionate, eccentric, "Boca Till I Die" fans. For El Superclásico however, it almost inevitable that thousands more will cram into the terraces, hoping to spur their beloved Boca Juniors to victory.

I have a Spanish friend called Pedro Bejarano, and in December last year he went on holiday to Buenos Aires. The locals, including the non-football fans, said if there´s one thing he must do in his whole time in Argentina, it´s to go to La Bombonera and watch El Superclásico. Pedro was on the phone to me the other day, and he said:

"Yoosof. If there´s one thing you must do before you die, I swear down it has to be to go to La Bombonera, and witness the greatest match football has to offer, El Superclásico."

River Plate v Boca Juniors: The Passion And The Gory

Posted on Jan 6, 2012 from archives.

In Argentina this Sunday evening you are either a ‘chicken’ or a ‘shit’.

If you like your football passionate, electrifying, hate-filled and intense then the Superclasico featuring River Plate v Boca Juniors is the mother lode. Often dubbed the biggest game in world football – the Observer once said it made the Old Firm derby look like ‘a primary school kickabout’ – it divides an entire nation and provides an atmosphere quite unlike any other.

Whether its held at Boca’s La Bonbonera (the ‘chocolate box’ so-called because one side of the ground resembles a stack of boxes) or La Monumental (River Plate’s capacious stadium that staged the 1978 World Cup final and dazzled the watching world with its tempest of colour and ticker tape) the stands tremble throughout from both sets of supporters jumping up and down to a rhythm of drums banged under stern direction of the barra bravas. Coloured smoke plumes across the terraces. Shredded newspapers flutter everywhere like errant confetti. It is all at once intimidating, thrilling and strangely joyous. A Hieronymus Bosch painting viewed on amyl nitrate.

The ‘chickens’ are River Plate. In 1966, in Montevideo, Uruguay, they were comfortably leading that year’s final of the InterContinental Cup. The River keeper decided to control a misplaced through-ball, not in the conventional fashion, but instead with his chest flamboyantly puffed out, resembling the curvature of a chicken’s breast. Their opponents Penarol were so enraged at being mocked they mounted a surprise comeback and ultimately triumphed 4-2.

The ‘shits’ are Boca. So-called because their club is based in the industrialised dockside heartland of La Boca, surrounded – supposedly – with foul-smelling water. The River fans turn up at La Bonbonera wearing handkerchiefs over their faces to cover the imagined stench.

The tough La Boca district holds the key to all the fierce animosity between the two clubs. Both originated from there but in 1923 River Plate moved to the more salubrious Nunez area of Buenos Aires, a mere seven miles away. This gave them the derisive nickname of Los Millonarios and created a deep-rooted social schism that has formed a fundamental element of the hatred ever since; one based upon class divide. In a country that has suffered bankruptcy, corruption, Peronism, and repressive regimes it is the most incendiary divide of them all.

In 1994 a busload of River Plate fans en route to the game were ambushed at gun-point with two shot dead.

Boca are regarded as the working class people’s club. They symbolise strength and heart and honest, underdog endeavour.

River Plate are considered the stylish sophisticates. Nigel Havers to Boca’s Jim Royle.

Such simplistic stereotypes often crumble of course under closer scrutiny.

Boca are hardly the poor struggling underdogs of lore. They have produced such magical talents – and lifelong fans – of the calibre of Francisco Varallo and Diego Armando Maradona (who can sometimes be seen twirling his blue and yellow jersey above his head in a private box at La Bonbonera) and hold the domestic record for honours won, an impressive trophy haul of forty-one.

A reputed forty per cent of the entire population are los bosteros (‘manure handlers’ a nickname now proudly embraced by Boca fans and derived from the horse manure used in the brick factory that once was situated where La Bonbonera now stands) and they boastfully claim to be the club of ‘half plus one’ (‘la mitad mas uno’) suggesting half the Argentine public follow them plus one.

Their global fanbase is such that they encounter the same derogatory disdain from rival fans as Manchester United, mocked for their superficial foreign support. In Argentina you are either Boca or anti-Boca. There is no in between.

River Plate too in many ways belie their lazy caricature. Though they reside in leafy affluence, and own a successful basketball team (an extremely middle-class pursuit in some corners of South America) their fans are some of the baddest asses around. Known as the los borrachos del tablon (‘the drunkards of the boards’ in reference to when they would sit, in times past, on wooden seating) they are feared in a country where hooliganism is almost a legitimized activity. In recent times they have even been assisted in their endeavours by the club’s hierarchy and their organisational skills, numbers, and propensity for weaponry has meant that several of their rival barras bravas have gone out of their way to avoid scheduled battles. Some members of los barrachos are still wanted for the slaying of two Newell’s fans eight years ago.

The rivalry, hatred and violence between the two tribes are as much a part of the spectacle as whatever decent football is permitted to occur on the pitch amongst the deafening din and showers of ticker tape. Inevitably this has on occasion tipped beyond the fervent and into tragedy and even murder.

In 1968 seventy-four supporters were crushed to death at El Monumental when Boca fans (known as La Doce which translates as ‘the twelfth man’) threw burning paper down onto the stand beneath them causing mass panic and mayhem.

In 1994 a busload of River Plate fans en route to the game were ambushed at gun-point with two shot dead. River Plate won the match 2-0 but soon after graffiti sprang up around Buenos Aires stating ‘River 2 Boca 2’.

Hooliganism and, let’s be kind and call it excessive fervour, is not exclusive to this fixture. Indeed this weekend the current league leaders Valez Sarsfield will be forced to play behind closed doors after their supporters were a touch over-zealous with the flares during a recent game.

On the pitch Boca have been largely disappointing of late. However, as the cliché goes, form is irrelevant in such games and on Sunday they look forward to the return from injury of their arch schemer Riquelme. He, alongside a fit-again Rivera, will be expected to carve out openings for the aging, but always prolific, Martin Palermo.

River Plate too have been in decline though, with a reputation for style and élan they can always be relied upon to contain a wily number ten. In recent times Ortega and Saviola has worn the sacred shirt. Now it is promising youngster Erik Lamela who is reportedly being pursued by AC Milan amongst others.

The match however is almost a side-show at the superclasico. It was always thus. The real drama and excitement is provided amidst the carnival of bright primary colours and pure dark hatred enacted by the chickens and shits of Buenos Aires.

Tja hvad skal man med Barca - Real, Celtic - Rangers, liverpool - Man utd, AC Milan - inter ....der er kun en Superclasico og det er River - Boca. - selv englænderne indrømmer det åbenbart...hvilket der skal noget til før de gør...

Boca Juniors v River Plate superclásico is the mother of all football matches

The football is second to the party and not even Mothering Sunday can distract rival fans from trying to shout the loudest

"It´s perfect weather for Mother´s Day," says a neighbour stepping out on to the street, flowers in one hand, "and also for River against Boca," replica shirt in the other. As the sun beat down on Buenos Aires, señoras across the country were treated to cards, gifts and the traditional Sunday steak with their children. At 10 past four though, all niceties were put on hold. "Mum, I love you!" shouts one punter stopped by a TV crew. "But how can you support Boca?" This year, Mothering Sunday in Argentina coincided with the superclásico. As posters the next day would put it, it was also the day to find out who´s the daddy.

River Plate against Boca Juniors is frequently dubbed the biggest game in the world. It divides Argentina as much as Peronism does. Tradition, honour, history and class are all ingredients that make it one of the most disputed matches in club football, both on and off the pitch. Two sets of fans, River´s chokers, the gallinas, and Boca´s stinky bosteros battle it out from their opposite ends of the stadium. Around 1,300 police officers line the streets around the ground to ensure the battle is limited to who sings the loudest. Both clubs have serious hooligan problems.

While the fixture offers the opportunity to decide supremacy between the two groups of supporters, it used to be the game that decided who was top in Argentine football. This season, things haven´t quite gone to plan. Travel agencies ham up the great atmosphere line to justify charging tourists up to seven times the face value of tickets. Home side River may be reigning league champions, but they were joint bottom of the table going into the match. The team had won a stunningly disastrous eight points from nine league games. Boca, meanwhile, went into the clásico 11 points off the pace set by Viggo Mortensen´s beloved San Lorenzo.

Devoid of the tension of a title decider, it is still the game in the Argentine football calendar that gets the juices flowing. "You have two objectives at the beginning of a season," says River midfielder Oscar Ahumada, "to win the title and to win the superclásico." While chat shows conducted the post mortem on Alfio Basile´s reign as Argentina coach during the week, and wanted to delve deep into the psyche of Leo Messi, Sergio Agüero and Carlos Tevez to work out what is going wrong with the Albiceleste, one journalist comes clean. "I really couldn´t care less about the national team. I only care about River against Boca."

High up in the River stand behind the goals, the barra brava — the hooligan group — share the sentiment. Under the fierce sun, the replica shirts are off and the tattoos are out. The club´s badge is inked on to shoulders, backs and chests. Weeks of friends winding each other up, acres of billboard adverts, miles of column inches, and hours of radio and interminable chat shows have all contributed to creating the pressure-cooker atmosphere at kick-off. Flares belch out smoke; balloons and shredded newspapers litter the air and the Omar Sívori stand trembles. Intimidating chants about River Plate´s feared barra brava, Los Borrachos del Tablon, sound out as the ´official´ drummers arrive for the start of the match.

Yet for all the passion, the football is of secondary importance. This game is about being ´better´ fans than the opposition. Some of the barra leaders, many sporting extraordinarily well-groomed mullets, will barely watch the match. They are the orchestra conductors, punching the air incessantly, facing the fans and directing the masses to keep up with the tempo of the songs. "The real contest," says one supporter, "is against them," nodding in the direction of the 2,000 Boca fans at the opposite end of the ground. On the basis of this year´s clásico, it is understandable why some prefer the party to watching the football.

Wayward passing and cagey tactics produced a stalemate at half-time. "Look at all the mistakes the defenders are making," points out the respected commentator Enrique Macaya Marquez during the game, "and look at all the mistakes the forwards are making." Juan Roman Riquelme hits the bar from a corner, Radamel Falcao sees his shot parried on to the post, Diego Buonanotte provides flashes of skill, but the standard of football is poor.

After the break, Boca captain Hugo Ibarra chooses the wrong day to refer to the shell of the linesman´s mother, and is sent off just six minutes into the second half. River are in such bad shape that even against 10 men they fail to test the nervy Boca keeper Javier Garcia, making his superclásico debut. It is up to Riquelme to decide the game. In the days leading up to the match he had been painted as the villain in the soap opera that had taken over proceedings at the Casa Amarilla. "In 12 years at Boca I have made two friends, I don´t need any more," he said defiantly, answering criticisms from team-mates for being a difficult man to be around. "What matters is how we play on the pitch."

True to his words, Riquelme inspires Boca to their first win at the Monumental in five years. On the hour, he swings in a free-kick that youth team player Lucas Viatri meets with a looping header. It is the only goal of the game. As the final whistle sounds, Boca coach Carlos Ischia is well into the spirit of things and cuts River down to size. "Right now, River aren´t a big club. They are bottom of the table. For us, this is just three more points." In the pressroom, his opposite number, Diego Simeone, decked out in his trademark black suit, squares up to reporters. "Are you going to look at me when I answer your question?" he demands from one journalist, as he lays part of the blame on his players. "Three months ago, the same players that were out there today were champions." His job now depends on winning the Copa Sudamericana. Victory over Boca would have changed that, and Simeone is fully aware of a missed opportunity.

Outside, fans leaving the Monumental know that it had been far from a vintage superclásico. For Boca the party was just about to begin, regardless of the quality on the pitch. Had the game mirrored the spectacle and passion on display in the stands, the fixture would be deserving of its title. But, as Riquelme said on his way out of the ground with the hint of a smile, "at least the mothers who are bosteras are happy today."


http://www.guardian.co.u…l-argentina

Ronaldinho And Atletico MG Exorcise Demons As Title Race Hots Up

Ronaldinho dropped to one knee, bowed his head, covered his eyes, and burst into tears. Young Bernard embraced his idol with a poignant blend of delight and concern: as much as congratulating his team-mate, the 19 year-old was comforting a friend.

Fillipe Soutto arrived shortly after, throwing his arms around his distraught colleague, before the former FIFA World Player of the Year was lost in the pile. As the crowd dispersed, Ronaldinho tried desperately to compose himself. Looking to the heavens, he puffed out his cheeks and trotted back to the halfway line. It was the first of a hat-trick that would give Atletico Miniero a 6-0 win over Figueirense. His curling effort that sailed into the top corner may well have been a cross. But that mattered little.

It was a victory that would keep Atltieco Mineiro within six points of league leaders Fluminense – a gap that was beginning to look a stretch too far, even with eleven rounds of fixtures remaining. O Galo, who were runaway leaders of the Brazilian championship at around the halfway stage, had already lost the league title, said the doubters. But that was a prospect deemed almost immaterial by the events of just two days previously, when Ronaldinho has lost a father. For the second time.

“The goals from today, I dedicate it to my family and thank you for the messages of affection I received. The gap [my stepfather] leaves is irreparable,” he tweeted. Vanderlei had passed away after suffering a hear attack.

Fast forward a few weeks and a slightly less significant gap remains at just six points after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Fluminense on Sunday night. “It was a match with all the ingredients of a title decider, especially the emotion,” said coach Cuca. Emotion has been omnipresent throughout the season for his side, and that was once again evident when Leonardo Silva’s dramatic 93rd minute winner claimed all three points and kept his side in the title race.

Fluminense have consistently looked the best side of Brasileirao 2012. They’re very Brazilian: compact, organised, athletic and reactive to often devastating effect. Abel Braga’s side have lost just three of their 32 games, and conceded the fewest in the league. In Fred they boast perhaps the best centre forward on the continent right now; Wellington Nem’s stock continues to rise, with a winter move to Europe looking likely for the pint-sized support-striker; they can also rely on the experience of Deco, the guile of Thiago Neves, and the security provided by the double-pivot of Edinho and Jean.

In contrast, Cuca’s more expansive group – the league’s current top scorers – is made up of misfits: Ronaldinho arrived on a free after an underwhelming few years for the once world’s greatest, and amidst the controversy of his contractual dispute with Flamengo; Jo has spent more time partying than playing football since deciding to take his own winter break whilst playing in England; Danilinho and Guilherme are trying to get their careers back on track after their careers abroad appeared to fizzle out; while Richarlyson is trying to recover his enthusiasm for the game following allegations about his private life that halted his progression at Sap Paulo.

On Wednesday night, the Rooster’s unlikely title challenge continues against Ronnie’s old foes, Flamengo – and his contribution will be key. “[Ronaldinho] has a technical quality different to the others,” says Cuca. “He has had games when he hasn’t played as well, but when he does well, the team does well.” With just six games remaining, there’s little room for error.

They may well yet be a fairytale end for a club who last won the league 34 years ago, though the sensible money remains on Flu. If Cuca’s side do slip-up and eventually lose the title to Flu, the black-and-white section Belo Horizonte can be proud of their team the season. After all, they were never supposed to be here in the first place.

If, in a few weeks’ time, Cuca, Ronaldinho and co. are forced to look on as Fred raises the championship crown, they can take solace in the fact they will have achieved something that, though less tangible, is arguably just as important.

Because the league table come the end of the season will once again be little more than a preface to the novel that has been this year’s Brazilian championship – and everyone at Aeltico MG has a story to tell.

Cuca’s approach has shown that daring can still produce victories in a league as pragmatic as any in the world. Bernard, perhaps the stand-out player of the season, has enjoyed a fascinating opening chapter to his career. Jo has achieved a certain vindication, his ten goals proving he still has something other than the social event of the year to offer; and Richarlyson appears to have rediscovered his joy for the game after what has been a difficult few years for the former Brazilian international.

Ronaldinho, meanwhile, has been at the centre of all. “He has helped me a lot,” says Bernard. “He has talked to me and told me that I must enjoy playing football.” He himself appeared at one stage to have lost that joy, but amidst the tears and cries of frustration, that contagious smile has been slightly more frequent in the second half of 2012.

Perhaps most importantly, however, he has proven to us all that the game can be used to help overcome tragedies that far outweigh what happens on a football pitch.

Prieto: “Espero castigo con el mismo criterio que sancionó al resto”

El arquero de Colo Colo ofreció disculpas por los gestos tras el Superclásico, pero pidió “justicia” en el castigo. Además, explicó que el árbitro fue malo para ambos lados y recordó lo hecho por Marcelo Díaz.

Francisco Prieto explicó que está arrepentido por los gestos que realizó contra la U tras el Superclásico. Según el arquero de Colo Colo, aceptará sin cuestionamientos las fechas de castigo que le den. Además, que todo fue por estar con las emociones al máximo.

“Estoy dispuesto a aceptar las sanciones. Espero que sea el mismo criterio con el que sancionó a otros jugadores. Las pulsaciones están a mil. Quiero pedir disculpas a la gente que se vio afectada por lo que hice. No volverá a pasar”, explicó.

Sobre el arbitraje, Prieto explicó que se equivocó para los dos lados y que tanto él como el resto de los jugadores, deben dar el ejemplo de la actitud en la cancha.

“Los jugadores y los árbitros se pueden equivocar. Es fácil hablar cuando se pierde. Se equivocó para ellos y para nosotros. Estoy claro que tenemos que ser ejemplo para los más chicos y para la sociedad. Respeto lo que diga la intendenta”, agregó.

Sobre su gesto a la barra de la U, Prieto recordó uno similar hecho por Marcelo Díaz el año pasado y pidió que se le mida con la misma regla al momento de castigarlo.

“Él se equivocó, yo también. Ahora estoy dando la cara. Si hablamos de códigos, ellos mostraron muchas fotos, aquí y allá. Tenemos que respetarnos todos”, cerró.

Chelsea linked Neymar: Timing not right for Santos exit

Linked with European giants Chelsea, Barcelona and PSG, Neymar has once more insisted that it is not yet the right time to leave Brazilian football for foreign shores.

Neymar, 20, was speaking after receiving his prize for finishing 2012 as the top-scorer in the Copa Libertadores with eight goals - a competition Santos look set to miss out on in 2013.

The club´s non-qualification had prompted speculation that Neymar would hasten his departure for Europe, but the star of the Seleção once more pinpointed the 2014 World Cup as his ideal exit point.

"I will stay at Santos until 2014. I am happy at the club and this is the important thing," he told the amassed media ranks. "It´s not the right time to leave. My aim is to win all the tournaments that I enter."

Santos have struggled in this year´s Campeonato Brasileiro, but have done so largely in the absence of their main attacking threat - who has played just eleven times this league season.

Neymar refused to solely blame his absence for the poor results, adding: "I won´t say it´s because of this that Santos are are no longer in first or second, but I am sad to have played so little because I still haven´t won a Brasileirão title. It´s bad that I could not help my team."

Regarding the potential arrival of one of the club´s former-stars in Diego or Robinho, Neymar was giving little away but insisted he would welcome any addition.

He finished: "The doors are open. It´s the best thing to have reinforcements to help the team. If Muricy requires it, then the directors will work to buy these players.

"It´s a shame that we are outside of the top-four, but we´ll keep trying until the end."

Botafogo youngster Bruno Mendes: No Juventus offer

Young striker Bruno Mendes has been the centre of attention in Brazil over the past few weeks and it was little surprise when it was reported on Italian website Tuttosport that a bid had arrived from Italian giants Juventus for his services.

Bruno Mendes, 18, moved to the Alvinegro from Série B side Guarani in September and has scored three times in his first three Série A appearances for Botafogo, including a wonderful brace in victory over local rivals Vasco.

Talk of interest from Juventus has been strong in the Italian media and, indeed, it was even reported with assurance that a bid had been received for the striker, a claim refuted by the player.

"I saw that, yes. But, I am not aware of anything - neither me or my agent," Bruno told Lancenet!. "I saw this news only from the websites, but nothing arrived for me. There was no proposal."

The starlet has quickly become a popular figure amongst the Rio de Janeiro club´s fans and believes this status is purely a reflection of his hard-work:

He added: "[The support] is a reflection of the work I´ve put in. The fans have seen the dedication that I have shown on the pitch. I will continue working to show my best and I hope to stay as a regular."