South America's Top Clubs - January 2016

In the first edition of 2016, there are not too many changes in the TOP club ranking. This is mainly due to the fact that most of the leagues were on their Winter break already and had their respective seasons finished. Huracán, the leader of December 2015, remains on top for the second month in a row as well, followed by their Argentinian rivals Independiente. Surprisingly high in third and fifth: Venezuelan champion Zamora and Deportivo La Guaira,...

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Copa Libertadores - Group Stage Draw

Not only the first round of the Copa Libertadores was drawn yesterday, we also get an idea of who plays who in the group stage. There are quite some great groups to look forward to.    (photo from sport.es) Group 1 contains the title holders: Argentina's River Plate want to defend their title and start that mission against The Strongest, Trujillanos and the winner of Universidad César Vallejo vs São Paulo. It should make for a good...

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Copa Libertadores 2016 Draw – First Round

Last night, the draw for the upcoming 2016 Copa Libertadores edition was being held in Asunción. Due to the large amount of good teams, quite a few competitive groups that should be fun to follow were the result. (picture from eltiempo.com) Let’s get started with the first stage of the tournament though, the six two-legged elimination games for the last spots in the group stage Oriente Petrolero are hosting the recent Copa Sudamericana...

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Penalty thriller - Santa Fe win Copa Sudamericana

Santa Fe have reached their goal: After two goalless draws against Huracán, the Colombians have won the Copa Sudamericana in a penalty shootout, 3-1, at home. Champions: Santa Fe celebrate their first Copa Sudamericana title. The game itself was not the greatest, as it often is in the finals of big competitions. In the first half, Huracán did surprisingly well and had the biggest early chance. In the first minute, striker Rámon Abila might want...

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South America’s Top Clubs – December 2015

We have reached the last edition of the year 2015. By reaching the final in the Copa Sudamericana, Argentinian club Hurácan have gone top of this ranking. They move up from third position. The previous winner Libertad meanwhile drop a bit due to a loss of points in the league. In general, there are a total of 8 clubs in the list that have not been around in the previous month. The new number one: Huracán. (photo from tycsports.com) The rules if...

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River’s title defense fails – Huracán in Copa Sudamericana final!

For the first time in club history, Huracán have reached the final of the Copa Sudamericana. A 2-2 draw was enough to eliminate local rival and defending champions River Plate 3-2 on aggregate. Patricio Toranzo celebrates his early goal against River. (photo from infobae.com) Key to their success were long balls that showed the visitor’s defensive vulnerability. On the first goal from Patricio Toranzo after only 3 minutes, a long clearance became...

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Final! Santa Fe advances with two draws

The first team in the 2015 Copa Sudamericana final is known since the past night. Santa Fe’s 0-0 home draw was enough to get by Sportivo Luqueño with an aggregate score of 1-1. Away goal to the rescue. Midfield battle between Santa Fe and Sportivo Luqueño. (EFE) Sadly, the game could never really live up to expectations which were also fueled by the fantastic welcoming of the Colombian crowd. At the end of the night there were only 10 shots fired...

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Exciting News – Football Roundup South America

Peñarol’s new stadium is coming along nicely. The Uruguayan 5-time Copa Libertadores winner continues to build on a new arena, that was originally supposed to be done by June this year. So far, the building time comprises 21 months. Since the club was trying to build a new own home for over 80 years now, some more months most likely won’t hurt anybody. A 21 meses de aquel 10 de febrero donde todo comenzó, el @EstadioCAP sigue creciendo imponente....

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Points Are Shared in Clásico Uruguayo

What better place in the world to watch a game of football than a packed Centenario? In the stadium of Uruguay’s 1930 World Cup triumph, it was between old foes Nacional and Peñarol to write a new chapter in their respective histories. Perfect setting for an entertaining Clásico. (Javier Calvelo / adhoc fotos) Under the eyes of Uruguay’s last Copa América winners team captain Diego Lugano (now Cerro Porteño/ Paraguay), Nacional took control of...

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Clásico Uruguayo – Interview with Nicolás Difiori

Special games deserve special build-ups. Ahead of Saturday’s Clásico between Nacional and Peñarol, I had the chance to interview Uruguayan sports journalist Nicolás Difiori. Here is what he had to say about the game itself, special traditions and some of the star players. Make sure that you go follow him on twitter @nicolasdifiori. ATENCIÓN: Para leer este artículo en español, haga clic aquí: Entrevista en español. Germancopa: Hola, Nicolás!...

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Clásico Uruguayo – Entrevista con Nicolás Difiori

Un juego especial merece una edición especial. Previo al clásico que se celebrará el próximo sábado entre Nacional y Peñarol, tuve la oportunidad de entrevistar al periodista deportivo uruguayo Nicolás Difiori. A continuación encontrarán algunas de sus opiniones sobre: el partido, las tradiciones especiales de los fanáticos, los jugadores destacados y más. Síganlo en Twitter @nicolasdifiori. ATTENTION: To read this interview in English, click...

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Clásico Looming - Bring on Nacional vs Peñarol

It's not long anymore until the highlight of every Uruguayan football season: Next weekend (Saturday, 9pm CET), the Clásico between Nacional and Peñarol will be played. The form going into the game could not be much more different. Record champion Nacional lost at home to Sud América and followed it up with a draw against Racing at the Centenario. (photo from elbocon.com.uy) Their archrivals are on a four game winning streak after beating Danubio,...

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South America’s Top Clubs – November 2015

New month, new Paraguayan team on top? The best team in the last 15 games was Libertad! Despite crashing out of the Copa Sudamericana, they take over from rivals Olimpia who led the table last month. Olimpia themselves fall to fourth after a still strong month. The biggest jump comes from Huracán who enter the list in third thanks to their international successes. (photo: José Bogado- Última Hora) The rules if you missed them previously: For this...

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Copa Sudamericana – Semifinals Complete

The semifinals of the 2015 edition of the Copa Sudamericana are complete. After the Argentinian clubs Huracán and River Plate, as well as Paraguay’s Sportivo Luqueño, Santa Fe from Colombia reached the round of the last four the past night. To the semis they go: Santa Fe have reached the round of the last 4 by beating Independiente (CONMEBOL). In doing so, Santa Fe prevented the total Argentinian dominance that many feared ahead of the second legs...

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Sánchez Show to Victory – River Plate March On

In last night’s second matchup, the defending champions of every competition, River Plate, entered the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals with a never endangered 3-1 home victory over Chapecoense.  Man of the match was the brilliant Uruguayan midfielder Carlos Sánchez, who scored twice. Carlos Sánchez celebrates Leonardo Pisculichis (right) freekick beauty (photo: CONMEBOL). Right from the get go, River suddenly turned on their form again, that...

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Controversial Goal – Paranaense beat Luqueño

It’s the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals week and Brazilian club Atlético Paranaense hosted Paraguay’s last team in the competition, Sportivo Luqueño. The guests had yet to lose a game in this year’s competition, that also marked their first ever participation. 5 wins against Aurora, La Guaira and Deportes Tolima, along with a draw against La Guaira in the second round, show the strong international form of the Paraguayans. For Paranaense on the...

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One More Year – Zé Roberto Extends Contract

If age is really just a number, the expert for this thesis is a Brazilian athlete. Zé Roberto, at the age of 41, has extended his contract for another year with his club Palmeiras in São Paulo. This deal keeps him playing in his home country until at least December 2016. (Photo: Reginaldo Castro/ LANCE!Press) The former Brazilian international (84 games/6 goals) started his professional career in 1994, when he joined the first team from Portuguesa....

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Your Football Weekend Plan

The weekend’s football is coming up after the international break and you want to know what you need to watch across South America? This overview is for you then. (photo from Mirror UK) Argentina could crown a new champion in the early hours of Monday morning (2.30 CET). Boca Juniors are visiting Racing Club and these are the scenarios that make them champions… …Boca win and San Lorenzo only draw or lose in their away game against Olimpo (Sunday,...

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Ecuador Shock Argentina – World Cup Qualification

Ecuador have pulled off the unthinkable against Argentina last night by beating the World Cup and Copa América finalists 2-0 on their own ground in the El Monumental. When the others celebrate: Ecuador have beaten Argentina away from home. The first chance of the game came only about 40 seconds in when di María had a shot from the right saved by goalkeeper Domínguez. But it was Ecuador who took command ever since, had a penalty shout from Caicedo...

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Uruguay’s Successful Climb of Bolivian Mountains

A lot was made of the match location for the battle between Bolivia and Uruguay beforehand, as the stadium “Hernando Siles” lies over 3200 meters above sea level in the countries’ capital La Paz. It did not seem to bother the visitors the slightest. Uruguay came away with a 0-2 away win through goals from defenders Cáceres and Godín, their first ever win in aforementioned stadium. Not only the environmental settings promised trouble, but missing...

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Argentina Dominates – Copa Sudamericana Round Of 16

The Argentinian clubs had an extremely successful outing last night, with River Plate, Independiente and Huracán all advancing into the quarterfinals. They were followed by Sportivo Luqueño, Atlético Paranaense and Santa Fe. The champion survives: Matías Kranevitter #5 from River Plate (EFE). Tonight, the last two matches will be played between Defensor Sporting and Lanús (first leg 0-0), as well as Chapecoense and Libertad (first leg 1-1). Therefore...

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South America’s Top Clubs – October 2015

Third month, third different team at the top of South America’s club ranking. Paraguay’s Olimpia has taken over the lead from Santa Fe, who have dropped out of the top 20 after 4 straight losses before winning against Emelec in the Copa Sudamericana last night. Olimpia themselves nearly dropped out of the top spot on the last league matchday of the month, but came away with a 1-1 draw against Libertad. One of the most impressive runs in the past...

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