America's two most successful squads will take on each other on Wednesday's night to see who is to be crowned America's best.
Alejandro Sabella's boys might have a lot to think on their trip to Quito, as the level of the current American champion has seriously lowered along this season. Wits its two top strikers -Hernan Rodrigo Lopez and Gaston Fernandez- injured, and Leandro Desabato and Agustin Orion forbidden from playing, the Pincha will have to find itself on Ecuadorian ground to secure at least one point prior to the big final two weeks from now. Liga was crowned champion of the 2008's edition of the Copa Libertadores and won 2009's Copa Sudamericana, obtaining their place for this challenging final, will they succeed against the Argentinean rage?
Two Libertadores champions going for another title
When Estudiantes faced FC Barcelona, the Argentinean squad was as fearsome as possible, with a sharp offensive and a solid defense, with tall defenders and fast wingers. But the current situation is radically different, as Mauro Boselli is now scoring in the Premier League and his Uruguayan replacement Hernan Lopez is at the moment unable to perform. Juan Sebastian Veron will have to take the matter into his own hands to offer his experience and finesse to break Liga's defense, one of the sturdiest ones in the continent.
Despite the bad timing for this match, Estudiantes' coach believes chances are fifty-fifty for this match. "Estudiantes is a serious rival for anyone. We have a mystic that allows us to fight until the last minute every time. We've to team in the offense and don't lose our nerves against the pressure. We need to be more solidary than ever and keep Liga's goalkeeper constantly busy" were his declarations regarding this match. Estudiantes has not yet been defeated this season and is lurking at the 3rd position with seven points. The reduced squad of the team forbid the coach from giving some time to rest to his figures before this match, and this might be significant when playing away on Ecuador.
Team's captain and legendary midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron might be playing his last professional football final, as aged 37 his future with the Pincha is shorter day after day. Sabella's young squad might miss another player, Leandro Benitez, who suffered a strong hit on his leg during last week's match and might not be 100% ready to perform. Estudiantes is likely to adopt a defensive formation with much presence in the midfield to solve his offensive problems. If Enzo Perez and Veron are given enough space to create, then Paton Bauza's team might be in deep trouble. The last piece
Three years ago no one would have imagined Liga fighting at the top of America's football, but thanks to a clear idea and some revelations the Ecuadorian squad have turned into a scoring machine that gave a chance to players like Claudio Bieler (in Racing Club nowadays) to flourish and show their worth to the world.
Bauza's scheme involves a 3-4-1-2 formation with much presence in the wings and the ability to counter attack from every possible front. Even though the team was dismantled after the unexpected 2008's cup the bases of 2009's Sudamericana winners stand still, with Neicer Reasco as one of the most dangerous players from the right wing. To join him in the offense Liga counts with Ecuador's international Christian Lara, a natural born play maker with an exquisite touch.
But the player in charge of capitalizing Liga's offensives is Hernan Barcos, current top striker in the Ecuadorian league. Former Estudiantes' player Juan Manuel Salgueiro is the second striker, and his knowledge of Pincha's defense will be decisive to keep Liga's goal shut.Liga's main problem is the defense, as the three central defenders are over 30 years old and might have trouble keeping up with Estudiantes' pace. Young Alexander Dominguez is the man between the posts, whose lack of experience might be his main rival to stand against Sabella's boys. Aged only 23, he's indeed a promise of the American football, but the experience of facing Libertadores' champion might be traumatic for the goalie.
This will be the first final, but both teams are experiencing this match as definitive. On September 8th both teams will take on each other again, but that time in La Plata.. who will be crowned America's best?
