South America will soon know which team will be representing it at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016. Four sides remain in the hunt for the trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, with Atletico Nacional well placed to reach the 2016 Copa Libertadores final after continuing their excellent form with a 2-0 win at Sao Paulo in the first leg of their semi. In the other tie, Independiente del Valle will look to make yet more history by building on their 2-1 home defeat of Boca Juniors.
FIFA.com looks ahead to this week’s return legs.
The fixtures
Semi-final second legs
Wednesday 13 July, 19:45 (local time)
Atletico Nacional (COL) v Sao Paulo (BRA)
Thursday 14 July, 21:45 (local time)
Boca Juniors (ARG) v Independiente del Valle (ECU)
The stakes
Atletico Nacional-Sao Paulo
Searching for their fourth Libertadores title, Sao Paulo have left themselves with much to do after their first-leg reverse at home. The statistics weigh against them making a comeback in Colombia, with Atletico having only conceded four goals in their ten games to date. The Brazilian side will also have to contend with the potent Verdolaga attack, which has struck 21 goals thus far.
If O Tri are to make the final, they will need striker Jonathan Calleri to find his touch in front of goal and goalkeeper Denis to be at his best between the posts. The good news for Edgardo Bauza’s men is that forward Ricardo Centurion is available for selection once again; the bad is that experienced defender Maicon was sent off in the first leg of the semi-final, so he must miss Wednesday’s match.
The duel
Marlos Moreno v Eugenio Mena
Sao Paulo’s Chilean left-back Eugenio Mena will have the onerous task of trying to contain Atletico wide man Marlos Moreno, who has produced four assists in the competition so far, more than any of his team-mates. With the Brazilian outfit needing to win, will Mena have the opportunity to get forward and help out in attack?
The stat
943 – the number of passes Atletico Nacional midfielders Alexander Mejia and Sebastian Perez have completed to date. Mejia has successfully delivered 478 of 517 passes – more than any other player in the competition – with his team-mate next on the list with 465 out of 500.
What they said
“We’ll be going to Medellin with hopes of turning the tie around, though we’ll have to work hard if we want to do that. We know it’s going to be tough, but we feel we can do it all the same. They played a clever waiting game here and got the win in the end. I’m sure they’ll come at us there, and we’ll need to get the first goal to give our chances a boost.”Sao Paulo coach Edgardo Bauza
The stakes
Boca Juniors-Independiente del Valle
Independiente del Valle are keen to make yet more history. Six years on from earning promotion to the Ecuadorian first division, they are harbouring genuine hopes of winning the biggest prize in South American club football. Standing between them and the final are the most imposing of opponents: Boca Juniors, the second-most successful team in the history of the Copa Libertadores with six title wins.
If they are to make the most of the narrow advantage they earned in the first leg, Los Negriazules will need to focus and capitalise on their chances, with most of their hopes lying in the finishing prowess of Jose Angulo, who has six goals so far in the competition. At the other end they will look to blunt a Xeneize front line led by Carlos Tevez and cheered on by a typically vociferous crowd.
The duel
Junior Sornoza v Adrian Cubas
Like Angulo, Sornoza has helped himself to six goals in this year’s Libertadores. Mightily effective in dead-ball situations, having already scored from set-pieces and the penalty spot, Sornoza is also a skilled playmaker whose vision in the hole behind Angulo could prove crucial to his side’s chances. Lining up against him will be Boca central midfielder Adrian Cubas, whose brief will be to cover any space left by team-mates venturing forward and to intercept the late runs Sornoza has a habit of making.
The stat
40 – the number of goal attempts that Angulo has had during the course of the competition. His closest pursuer is Tevez, who has 32 to his name and will be lining up against him on Thursday.
What they said
“We’ve got 90 minutes to score one goal, not 15. Just look at how Atletico Nacional turned their tie against Central around. They were behind on aggregate and went and got the winner in injury time, and they did it by keeping possession and staying calm. They moved the ball around and didn’t lose their nerve. That’s going to be our plan too.” Boca Juniors coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto
From : Fifa.com
