Universidad de Chile kick-off their Copa Libertadores campaign with a mouthwatering clash against Atletico Nacional in Medellin on Tuesday.
Chilean giants Universidad de Chile will get their Copa Libertadores campaign underway with a tricky trip to Medellin to take on Atletico Nacional at the Atanasio Girardot stadium on Tuesday.
La 'U' will be aiming to start on a high note, as they intend to replicate their triumphant Copa Sudamericana campaign of last year, with South American club soccer's ultimate prize.
Meanwhile, Defensor Sporting are in a must-win situation at home to Deportivo Quito, because anything less than the three points could prove fatal for the Uruguayans.
Deportivo Quito, the reigning Ecuadorian champions, will be hoping to take full advantage of Defensor's desperation to return home with a positive result.
Defensor Sporting are in a must-win situation when they entertain Deportivo Quito in the Group 7 clash at the Luis Franzini stadium on Tuesday.
After having suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Velez Sarsfield last week, the Uruguayan outfit will need to obtain the three points against the Ecuadorian champions unless they want to kiss goodbye to their chances of reaching the knock-out stage of the competition.
“We have to claim a positive result to straighten out the situation. The team is well, we have worked hard. We all know what our necessities are,” affirmed Gustavo Diaz, the coach of Defensor.
The coach will only make one change to the side that were thrashed by Velez, with former Getafe defender Pablo Pintos expected to begin the match from the kick-off.
Meanwhile, Deportivo Quito come into the game after having fought out a 1-1 draw with Chivas in Guadalajara last week. Carlos Ischia, the coach of the side, confessed that his team’s objective is to return to the Ecuadorian capital with at least a point, even if he thinks achieving this will be “difficult.”
Ischia, who coached Boca Juniors between 2008 and 2009, could be forced into making three changes to his side, as Juan Paredes, Luis Saritama and Matias Alustiza are in doubt for the game, after having picked up knocks during the Chivas game.
Copa Sudamericana champions Universidad de Chile travel to Medellin to take on hosts Atletico Nacional in what is expected to be a fascinating Group 8 encounter on Tuesday.
Universidad de Chile, who for many are the strongest side of the continent, arrived in Colombia with the intention to obtain a positive result in their Copa Libertadores opener.
“We are calm, with lots of optimism of what we can do, but we have to be cautious of what could come,” declared La ‘U’ captain Jose Rojas.
The Chileans count with an abundance of talent in their squad, despite the sale of Eduardo Vargas to Napoli at the conclusion of their treble-winning year.
Meanwhile, Atletico Nacional, winners of the 1989 Copa Libertadores, will be hoping to spoil their party with a good showing in front of their own fans.
The Colombians come into the match in fine form, after having thrashed Boyaca Chico 4-0 in the Colombian first division. However, coach Santiago Escobar, the brother of assassinated former soccer player Andres Escobar, remains cautious about the capacity of their upcoming rivals.
“The victory over Chico motivates us, but we are well aware of the fact that Universidad de Chile will be much different to all of the Colombian teams,” he admitted.
Atletico Nacional and Universidad de Chile share their group with Penarol and Godoy Cruz, a group which many consider to be the ‘Group of Death.’
La 'U' will be aiming to start on a high note, as they intend to replicate their triumphant Copa Sudamericana campaign of last year, with South American club soccer's ultimate prize.
Meanwhile, Defensor Sporting are in a must-win situation at home to Deportivo Quito, because anything less than the three points could prove fatal for the Uruguayans.
Deportivo Quito, the reigning Ecuadorian champions, will be hoping to take full advantage of Defensor's desperation to return home with a positive result.
Defensor Sporting are in a must-win situation when they entertain Deportivo Quito in the Group 7 clash at the Luis Franzini stadium on Tuesday.
After having suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Velez Sarsfield last week, the Uruguayan outfit will need to obtain the three points against the Ecuadorian champions unless they want to kiss goodbye to their chances of reaching the knock-out stage of the competition.
“We have to claim a positive result to straighten out the situation. The team is well, we have worked hard. We all know what our necessities are,” affirmed Gustavo Diaz, the coach of Defensor.
The coach will only make one change to the side that were thrashed by Velez, with former Getafe defender Pablo Pintos expected to begin the match from the kick-off.
Meanwhile, Deportivo Quito come into the game after having fought out a 1-1 draw with Chivas in Guadalajara last week. Carlos Ischia, the coach of the side, confessed that his team’s objective is to return to the Ecuadorian capital with at least a point, even if he thinks achieving this will be “difficult.”
Ischia, who coached Boca Juniors between 2008 and 2009, could be forced into making three changes to his side, as Juan Paredes, Luis Saritama and Matias Alustiza are in doubt for the game, after having picked up knocks during the Chivas game.
Copa Sudamericana champions Universidad de Chile travel to Medellin to take on hosts Atletico Nacional in what is expected to be a fascinating Group 8 encounter on Tuesday.
Universidad de Chile, who for many are the strongest side of the continent, arrived in Colombia with the intention to obtain a positive result in their Copa Libertadores opener.
“We are calm, with lots of optimism of what we can do, but we have to be cautious of what could come,” declared La ‘U’ captain Jose Rojas.
The Chileans count with an abundance of talent in their squad, despite the sale of Eduardo Vargas to Napoli at the conclusion of their treble-winning year.
Meanwhile, Atletico Nacional, winners of the 1989 Copa Libertadores, will be hoping to spoil their party with a good showing in front of their own fans.
The Colombians come into the match in fine form, after having thrashed Boyaca Chico 4-0 in the Colombian first division. However, coach Santiago Escobar, the brother of assassinated former soccer player Andres Escobar, remains cautious about the capacity of their upcoming rivals.
“The victory over Chico motivates us, but we are well aware of the fact that Universidad de Chile will be much different to all of the Colombian teams,” he admitted.
Atletico Nacional and Universidad de Chile share their group with Penarol and Godoy Cruz, a group which many consider to be the ‘Group of Death.’
