wwheng
1475
2012/07/03 06:59
#293485
wwheng wrote:
Copa Santander Libertadores 2012 Preview: Boca Juniors vs Corinthians Predictions
The Copa Libertadores finals begin this week with Boca Juniors and Corinthians trying to make history. Catch real time updates on your favorite Major League Soccer 2012 Match.
Boca Juniors Preview
Boca Juniors want to win its seventh title to tie Argentina rival Independiente as the most successful team in Latin America's most important club competition. Corinthians, meanwhile, is out to win its first major international trophy and prove it can be a powerhouse outside of Brazil too.
Boca Juniors enters the final with an experienced team that has been improving as the tournament progresses. Corinthians is coming in backed by one of the competition's top campaigns, which culminated with the elimination of defending champion Santos in the semifinals.
The first match of the two-legged series begins Wednesday in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The return leg is July 4 in Sao Paulo.
The seventh title for Boca Juniors would tie it with Independiente and add to its recent dominance in Latin American soccer.
Independiente's last triumph in the Copa Libertadores happened nearly 30 years ago, in 1984. Boca Juniors, meanwhile, will be trying to win its fifth title in the last 12 years, and the first since 2007. The Argentine giants also won the competition in 2000, '01 and '03.
Boca Juniors will be playing the first leg at its La Bombonera stadium, where it has won its last five matches in this year's Copa Libertadores. The stadium is touted as one of the toughest to play for opponents, with loud fans that usually include former Boca players Carlos Tevez and Diego Maradona.
“The Bombonera (factor) is real, it exists,” Corinthians coach Tite said. “You need to be mature to play there. We need to have the mental strength to do it.”
The only time Boca Juniors didn't win at home this year was when it played Brazil's Fluminense in the group stage, losing 2-1. It then defeated Fluminense 2-0 in Rio de Janeiro, and later eliminated it from the competition in the quarterfinals 2-1 on aggregate.
Boca Juniors was in contention to win the Clausura tournament in Argentina this weekend, but lost its final match on Sunday and finished third after coach Julio Cesar Falcioni used mostly second-stringers because of the Copa Libertadores finals.
Corinthians Preview
Brazilian champion Corinthians also didn't play its top players over the weekend, but it still defeated rival Palmeiras for its first win in the Brazilian league after six rounds, a result that allowed it to leave last-place in the 20-team standings.
Corinthians is Brazil's second most popular club, behind Flamengo, and has five national titles. But it has never had much success internationally. It won the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in 2000 but after it was invited as the host team.
It got through to the finals this year with a 2-1 aggregate win over Santos, touted as the best team in Brazil thanks to young stars Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso. Corinthians won the first leg in Santos then held on to a 1-1 draw at home to reach its first final in the Copa Libertadores, the only significant competition it has never won.
Boca Juniors vs Corinthians Predictions: Corinthians 1-0 Over Boca
Corinthians will be playing their first 1st final at Libertadores. They show a very regular team, with a lot of teamwork and they're still unbeaten. They had good results away in all matches from playoffs and I don't believe it will be diferent this time.Corinthian’s have paid their dues and now,I believe this is the Corinthian’s time to shine.
Original Source Boca Juniors vs Corinthians
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2012/06/06
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1475
Among the clubs who were able to learn their initial opponents were FC Basel 1893, who were able to reach the knockout stage last season.
The Swiss club, who lost against FC Bayern Munchen in the round of 16 last February, will be starting this season facing the Estonian FC Flora Tallinn, scheduled in the second qualifying round.
Before that, six teams are to face each other on first qualifying round ties on the 3rd and 10th of July, including a tie between Valletta FC and FC Lusitans with the winners due to meet FK Partizan.
FC Dynamo Kyiv, Panathinaikos FC and RSC Anderlecht will be showing up in the third qualifying round.
UEFA Champions League 2012 Preview: Linfield FC vs B36 Torshavn Predictions
Linfield and Torshavn will meet head to head on the 3 July 2012. Catch real time updates on your favorite UEFA Champions League 2012 Match
Linfield FC Preview
Belfast, North Ireland based club Linfield won their 51st Irish Premiership title by a massive 14-point margin last season with 85 points followed by Portadown at 71.Linfield FC dominated again as they took the league title by beating the Crusaders FC in the Irish Cup final to complete a sixth double in seven years.
On the 3rd of July they will face B36 Torshavn from the Faroe Island during the first leg of the Champions League.When compared to the opposing team, Linfield has a much richer history with a considerable amount of achievements. Mostly, however, the championsips were domestic and restricted within the Irish League. Nevertheless, the North Ireland outfit has a strong attack formation thus overwhelming the opposing teams.
B36 Torshavn Preview
Founded in 1936 in the Faroe Island and based in it’s capital with the same name, B36 Torshavn has several achievements but pale in comparison against Linfield. Their recent triumphs include winning the Faroe Islands Premier League in 2011, The Antlantic Cup in 2006, and the Faroe Island Super Cup in 2006.
B36 were drawn against AvenirBeggenin the Champions League Qualifying round in 1992. They went close but didn't make it through to the first round after a 1-0 loss and a 1-1 at home in the second leg. During the 2005-2006 Champions, the team reached the second round after defeating ÍBV Vestmannaeyar of Iceland 3-2 on aggregate. In the second round they narrowly lost to Danish Superliga-club FC Midtjylland 1-2 in the away leg and drew 2-2 at home. The team reached the second qualifying round of the UEFA ChampionsLeague in 2006-2007season after defeating Birkirkara FC of Malta5-2 on aggregate and were eliminated in second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, losing both matches to Fenerbahçe 4-0 and 5-0.
Linfield FC vs B36 Torshavn Predictions: F91 Dudelange 2-0
Both teams demonstrate talent and power in their own right. It is difficult to predict the winner of the first leg for the records show an equality in strength. We will just have to wait and see on 3 July 2012.
Original Source Linfield FC vs B26 Torshavn Previews and Predictions