Stadium: Azteca

Referee: Roberto silvera (Uruguay)

Club America (Mexico)

Last match the team lost 2-1 in their away visit to Colo Colo, and due they won the first leg 3-0, advance to next stage. In this match the team showed great luck as they avoid to receive goals as the post and lack of accuracy of Colo Colo strikers save them, as Colo Colo dominate more of the actions. The goals fall lately on the match, in the last 20 minutes, the last two in the final ten minutes of the match. For america scored DF Carlos Infante that accumulates two matches scoring and is aspiring to continue with the good streak.

In home during Libertadores Cup the team just allowed one defeat and that was in their first match back March, from there the team has played three more matches, taking victory in all of them 4-0 to Banfield, 2-1 to El Nacional and 3-0 to Colo Colo. The team relays on a good defense that is having great luck and great quality in GK Guillermo Ochoa, which only mistake are some lack of movement trought the net as he relays on a good jump.

The team activity on the local tournament doesn't stop as after the game with Colo Colo, arrive to Guadalajara to play against Atlas, match that end 3-3 as the referee award an unexistant penaltykick to Atlas. Three days later America play the second leg of Fourth Finals against Atlas and won 4-1 thanks a to a great performance of MF Cuauthemoc Blanco which colabare in three goals, scoring twice and serving a goal pass. The team take handy the deseperation of Atlas as in counterattacks the team make their best plays.

In less than 48 hours the team would have played two matches, first in Libertadores Cup against santos (Brasil) and then in Primera Division Semifinals against Chivas Guadalajara. Both matches are on home, the team couldn't take the privilege of sending a reserve or alternative team against Chivas, as they are their worst rival, that match is the national derby for excellence and a full stadium is expected, so the question is which players are going to encounter Santos.

Fw Salvador Cabañas is the best striker of the Cup with 10 goals and is showing a great resistance as after playing against colo Colo on the second leg, make a great sprint on the match against Atlas and score twice on that match. Less than 48 hours of rest between each match.

For this match is considerated GK Guillermo Ochoa, together with MF Cuauthemoc Blanco, which is playing at a really high level, together with MF Luis Perez and DF Felipe Baloy are set to play against santos.

So four players are already decided. And six more to define, in this the words of coach Luis Fernando Tena that he wants to finished the serie on this match. Which points to a offensive team with the best players available, and then with more peace focus on Chivas Guadalajara on the next day.

America plays defensively relaying on counterattacks and MF Cuauthemoc Blanco have taken the team on his back and depends a lot of what he can create. Also the team can generate scoring plays but this take longer as they build those plays from behind. Likes to play with wings attacks.

To grant fans support in this match, the team establish a 2x1 promotion, where on the buy of the ticket for America vs Chivas a ticket for America vs Santos was given as a gift. As the main focus for the fans is national derby America vs Chivas more than Libertadores cup match, but with this the Club grants that more spectators are going to make the effort to go both days.

Santos (Brasil)

Last match the team showed a lot of courage and passion, as they comeback in second leg match from 0-2, to revert the score for an 3-2 that grant the next stage qualification for santos, as on first leg had tie 2-2. Caracas FC showed a lot of quality and a great improvement after lossing their three first matches in this edition and then grant three victories eliminated in the group River Plate and almost eliminate Santos, but santos don't allowed it. Santos came from a tought eliminatory.

The team is the best of Libertadores Cup, unbeaten and with a hard defense. In group stage just allowed one goal in six matches, but in fourth finals allowed four goals in two matches and highlights that allowed goals in home, where they haven't allowed a single goal.

Coache Wanderlei Luxemburo said his main concern isn't the altitude (Which normally affects teamsfrom lower altitude cities) of the great capacity of Azteca Stadium (100,000 seats which could be a full crowd as America gave 2X1 promo) but is America team. Also the team new reinforcement is MF Mori Nunes Alessandro "Alessandro", which will provide more force to the MF.

The team kicksoff their participation on Serie A last weekend, the team was already divided with the main players already flying to Mexico, meanwhile an alternative team take that match an los 4-1. This points to a rested squad that is focused on Libertadores Cup.

Match:

Both teams are the only ones alived of the teams starting from the reclasification matches. So they have been facing a lot of playing activity, but right now the one with more matches at hand is America which at the end of this week will have played six matches in two weeks span, for almost a match every two days. But right now their mind is focus on Santos and the team will came out offensive but not forgetting to defend, looking to score goals and attacking with more players than they normally does, a early goal would send the team more defensive and counterattackin. Santos will not laid back as showed in all their matches the team aspire for victory in every venue they play. So a tought match is expected with two sides looking to win. (still some media slips that for Santos the draw is a good result).

Prediction:

Odds show favorite America as their statics showed they are far stronger in home than on away and hardly concede defeat in home, but there is a point on the ecuation they are forgetting and that is this is a Brazilian teams, which are the harders for Mexico teams. America is on home and will deliver a offensive display could be for just some short spaces of times, but their main focus as has been the whole season is the defense. So sense a hard match, I see some value on home side, still victory I don't see it so easy as Santos is a hard team and with good players which are more rested, but still I found value on America 0AH.

Pick : Club America
Odds : 1.66
Stake : 7 / 10
Bookmaker : Bet365
Date : 2007-05-17
Match Result :
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