South American giants Nacional and Penarol will set out to win their respective Copa Libertadores group games against complicated opposition in Libertad and Godoy Cruz on Thursday.
Uruguay’s two most accomplished clubs Nacional and Penarol, who have won a combined eight Copa Libertadores titles, will be hoping to claim maximum points in what are expected to be extremely difficult group games on Thursday.
Penarol, finalists of the 2011 Libertadores, will travel to Mendoza to take on Argentine outfit Godoy Cruz in their opening match of Group 7.
While arch-rivals Nacional, will intend to win their second successive Group 5 game when they entertain Libertad of Paraguay at the Parque Central, site of the first ever World Cup game back in 1930.
The Uruguayan rivals come into the competition with much to prove, not only because of their impressive track records, but because of the cash they have invested in building impressive squads.
Uruguayan champions Nacional will strive for maximum points when they play hosts to Libertad of Paraguay in what is expected to be a very evenly-matched clash at the Parque Central stadium on Thursday.
Nacional, one of the pre-tournament favourites, lived up to the hype that they have generated by picking up a 2-1 victory over Vasco da Gama of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro last week.
The three-time Copa Libertadores champions have reinforced their squad with plenty of quality this year, as they aim to win the competition for the fourth time and for the first time since 1988, when they beat Newell’s Old Boys of Argentina in the final.
Marcelo Gallardo, the Argentine coach of Nacional, is optimistic about his team’s chances and will be able to count with a full-strength squad against the Paraguayan outfit.
But although Nacional are expected to look very similar as to the side which edged Vasco, Gallardo has yet to decide whether he will maintain Vicente Sanchez in the starting eleven, or whether to replace him with Alexander Medina.
Nacional come into the game as the odds on favourites, but they will have to be at their best at all moments, as they face a rock-solid Libertad who arrived in Montevideo following a 4-1 thrashing of Alianza Lima in their opening group game.
Like Nacional, Libertad will look very similar as to how they did against the Peruvians, however, coach Jorge Burruchaga has yet to decide as whether to include Paraguayan international Jonathan Santana in his starting eleven.
Penarol will be looking to get the group stage of the competition underway in style when they visit Godoy Cruz at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium on Thursday.
The five-time Copa Libertadores champions gained entry into the group stage of the competition after hammering Caracas of Venezuela 5-1 over two legs in the preliminary qualification play-off, and will be hoping to continue with their impressive form.
Penarol, who beat Godoy Cruz both home and away in the group stage of the competition last year before going on to reach the final, come into the clash with high expectations.
“We will continue with the same mentality of the first phase with Caracas,” affirmed Gregorio Perez, the coach of the Uruguayan giants.
Perez counts with a formidable squad, which includes players with extensive experience in Europe like former Juventus pair Fabian Carini and Marcelo Zalayeta, as well as Fabian Estoyanoff and Dario Rodriguez.
But although he will field a strong side for the game, he will be unable to count with the services of former Benfica striker Rodrigo Mora, who will be replaced by youngster Maximiliano Perez.
Godoy Cruz, who were eliminated in the group stage of the competition last year, will search for the three points at all costs under the orders of new boss Nery Pumpido.
What should boost Godoy Cruz’s chances of not only beating Penarol, but of making a stand in the competition this year is the fact that they were able to hold onto key members of their squad after rejecting several offers. Two of their key players who have remained in the side are Diego Villar and prolific goal-poacher Ruben Ramirez.
Penarol, finalists of the 2011 Libertadores, will travel to Mendoza to take on Argentine outfit Godoy Cruz in their opening match of Group 7.
While arch-rivals Nacional, will intend to win their second successive Group 5 game when they entertain Libertad of Paraguay at the Parque Central, site of the first ever World Cup game back in 1930.
The Uruguayan rivals come into the competition with much to prove, not only because of their impressive track records, but because of the cash they have invested in building impressive squads.
Uruguayan champions Nacional will strive for maximum points when they play hosts to Libertad of Paraguay in what is expected to be a very evenly-matched clash at the Parque Central stadium on Thursday.
Nacional, one of the pre-tournament favourites, lived up to the hype that they have generated by picking up a 2-1 victory over Vasco da Gama of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro last week.
The three-time Copa Libertadores champions have reinforced their squad with plenty of quality this year, as they aim to win the competition for the fourth time and for the first time since 1988, when they beat Newell’s Old Boys of Argentina in the final.
Marcelo Gallardo, the Argentine coach of Nacional, is optimistic about his team’s chances and will be able to count with a full-strength squad against the Paraguayan outfit.
But although Nacional are expected to look very similar as to the side which edged Vasco, Gallardo has yet to decide whether he will maintain Vicente Sanchez in the starting eleven, or whether to replace him with Alexander Medina.
Nacional come into the game as the odds on favourites, but they will have to be at their best at all moments, as they face a rock-solid Libertad who arrived in Montevideo following a 4-1 thrashing of Alianza Lima in their opening group game.
Like Nacional, Libertad will look very similar as to how they did against the Peruvians, however, coach Jorge Burruchaga has yet to decide as whether to include Paraguayan international Jonathan Santana in his starting eleven.
Penarol will be looking to get the group stage of the competition underway in style when they visit Godoy Cruz at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium on Thursday.
The five-time Copa Libertadores champions gained entry into the group stage of the competition after hammering Caracas of Venezuela 5-1 over two legs in the preliminary qualification play-off, and will be hoping to continue with their impressive form.
Penarol, who beat Godoy Cruz both home and away in the group stage of the competition last year before going on to reach the final, come into the clash with high expectations.
“We will continue with the same mentality of the first phase with Caracas,” affirmed Gregorio Perez, the coach of the Uruguayan giants.
Perez counts with a formidable squad, which includes players with extensive experience in Europe like former Juventus pair Fabian Carini and Marcelo Zalayeta, as well as Fabian Estoyanoff and Dario Rodriguez.
But although he will field a strong side for the game, he will be unable to count with the services of former Benfica striker Rodrigo Mora, who will be replaced by youngster Maximiliano Perez.
Godoy Cruz, who were eliminated in the group stage of the competition last year, will search for the three points at all costs under the orders of new boss Nery Pumpido.
What should boost Godoy Cruz’s chances of not only beating Penarol, but of making a stand in the competition this year is the fact that they were able to hold onto key members of their squad after rejecting several offers. Two of their key players who have remained in the side are Diego Villar and prolific goal-poacher Ruben Ramirez.
