With the inclusion of the defending champions Atlético Nacional, Group A probably earns the tag of the tournaments most difficult group. While Atlético Nacional and Barcelona SC are the favourites to advance, Botafogo and Estudiantes represent formidable sides and will both have their own hopes of qualification.
Atlético Nacional
The club: The current Copa Libertadores champions are currently regarded as the best club in Colombia and also as one of the hot title contenders of the new Libertadores season. “El Verdolaga” from Medellin also has 15 championships in Colombia, also 2 Title in the highest international game. The undisputed best team in the continent last calender year have been consistently improving year on year and this culminated in last year’s success. While a team that has won everything often loses the attitude that makes it great, in the case of Atletico their poor showing in the Club World Cup means that they definitely feel they have something to prove.
The team: led by Captain Alexis Henriquez, the team has one goal this year which is to retain the trophy and return for a second attempt at winning the Club World Cup. A turbulent few months for the club has been further complicated by illness to manager Reinaldo Rueda, it will take some time for the coach to be back on the sidelines as he had to undergo therapy in the hospital. Bernardo Redin will be deputising for the veteran coach.
Transfers: With Miguel Borja and Alejandro Guerra, the two most important players of the last year’s title winning the club leaving for Palmeiras, the club faced a major challenge in the transfer market, with Marlene Moreno, Orlando Berrio, Sebastian Perez and Davinson Sanchez also leaving the club. The people in charge of Medellin had a difficult task ahead of them and were able to make some or other coup on the international market. The ever prolific Dayro Moreno has also been signed on loan after a spell in Mexico and it will be interesting to see if his usually reliable domestic goal scoring record can be replicated internationally. His start at Atlético has been promising having already scored 3 goals.
In addition, Aldo Ramirez and Edwin Valencia have both been added to bolster the midfield options. While Aldo Ramirez (35) with 39 minutes of playing time can not show much more competitions. Both parties have already played many international games because they have been signed up by large clubs in South America, which means that the numerous supporters, especially through these players, hope for an enrichment against good opponents.
Key players: Macnelly Torres continues to be the principal source of creativity and the spark of genius that all great sides have. Dayro Moreno, unlike Miguel Borja, showed himself not as an out and out striker, but as a co-operating attacker, who is also able to create opportunities for fellow players. Aguilar has deputised for the outgoing Davinson Sanchez and became stronger towards the end of the last year and made sure of his first place in the Copa Sudamericana in the defense alongside Henriquez. Franco Armani was one of the most important players of the last year, as the Argentine was able to keep the club from Medelin in the tournament on countless occasions making vital stops in key moments. He is also very vocal and vital to the organisation of the side.
Coach: Since 2015 the 59-year-old Colombian has been looking after Rueda “El Verde”, after having been with many other Colombian clubs, as well as being a national trainer of Colombia, Ecuador and Honduras. In addition to the Libertadores victory, he was probably the biggest success of the World Cup with the national selection from Honduras, with which he qualified for South Africa 2010. As soon as Rueda has recovered from his illness he will be back patrolling the touchline.
Chefutbol forecast: Due to the enormous losses suffered by numerous performers, there will be a bear task to defend the title, as the Libertadores’ competitors were able to strengthen well, especially also due to the higher budget. For the new season the goal should first be the group stage, as it is done with good teams, who can compete with the quality all with Atletico Nacional.
Barcelona S.C
The club: Along with arch rivals lay claim to be the biggest club in Ecuador. The clubs strong affinity with the colour has come to characterise the backdrop of their games both on and off the field. On 1 May 1925, the club was founded by immigrants from Catalonia and named after FC Barcelona. Barcelona SC is one of the most successful Ecuadorian clubs with 13 titles. With more than 100,000 registered members, Barcelona SC is also one of the clubs with the largest official fan base on the American continent.
The team: Last year it could hardly have been better for Barcelona winning both the Apertura and the Clausura and were the measure of things in Ecuador. Their reliable home dominance being matched equally by away performances and asserting domestic dominance despite struggling in the first few games of the year.
Transfers: For the attack they strengthened with Walter Chala from Cuenca and Christian Aleman from the second league of Deportivo Quito. Some loan players also came back, because now because of the double load also a larger squad needed.
Key players: There is no way ahead of goalkeeper Alvez Sagar. He was one of the main reasons for the very successful season and Barcelona managed to keep him despite most pundits assuming he would move on to a more lucrative challenge. In the midfield is much about the experienced Matias Oyola, but also Segundo Castillo will be an important support in the team. Maximo Banguera is also and experienced and dependable figure in goal. Coach: Guillermo Almada from Uruguay is the current trainer in Guayaquil. Before he became a coach in Ecuador, he was active in his home country where he coached River Plate Montevideo and Tacuarembo. He enjoys currently a good reputation among the fans, but things like this can change quickly in South America.
Chefutbol prediction: Barcelona SC is arguably the greatest hope for the Ecuadorians in the Copa Libertadores. At home they are in the well-visited Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha very difficult to defeat. The group is far from easy but we are sure of Barcelona SC’s progression to at least the knock-out phase providing they maintain their traditionally strong home form.
Estudiantes de La Plata
The Club: The 2009 champions return to this year’s tournament on the back of a fantastic few months in which they lead the table almost from the start until a disappointing last 3 games. The club traditionally has been a lot stronger in Intercontinental competitions winning the Copa Libertadores four times in its history while only 4 domestic league championships. The aforementioned 2009 triumph was a far stronger side than the current generation with Alejandro Sabella’s men taking Barcelona to extra time in the final of the Club World Cup. The major news of the summer was that club president Juan Sebastian Veron would be swapping his suit for a shirt after coming out of retirement aged 41.
Tranfers: Estudiantes lost hard working midfielder Augski to domestic rivals River Plate while Leandro Pirez moved to Atlanta United. They have sought to replace both but financial constraints have proved too restrictive in their quest for reinforcements managing only to bring in Augusto Solari on loan.
Key Player: Santiago Ascacibar has proved a sensation since breaking into the first team and already appears bound for Europe. Mariano Andujar is a reliable shot-stopper and was forced to stay despite interest from Boca Juniors while ex-Boca man Lucas Viatri is an out and out goalscorer.
Coach: Ex-Arsenal player and journeyman defender Nelso Vivas has proved an astute organiser since stepping up to the big job from the Estudiantes youth team. His side is well organised but have been involved in a number of high scoring games as he isn’t shy of giving attacking freedom to the wide midfielders in particular. His extrememly impressive start and win ratio declined in december but Vivas is still highly regarded.
CheFutbol prediction: The Estudiantes until November will pose a threat to Atletico Nacional and Barcelona for qualification but Vivas’ men definitely enter the tournament as third favorites to escape this year’s group of death. Qualification for the knock-out phases would be viewed as a massive success for the club from La Plata.
Botafogo
The club: Botafogo is one of the four major football clubs of the city of Rio de Janeiro and is one of the most traditional clubs in Brazil. The greatest success’ of the historic side were the two Brazilian championships in 1968 and 1995. The last title was the 20th state championship in 2010. The team: In the state championship the team failed to advance further than the preliminary round. However, with impressive wins over Olimpia (Paraguay), and Colo Colo (Chile) in the qualification for the Copa Libertadores main round was achieved. In the past, the Rio team made a respectable fifth place and now wants to prove themselves on the international stage.
Transfers: In comparison to the other Brazilian Copa players, Botafogo does not rely on big names and tried to strengthen itself mainly with players of smaller Brazilian teams. The names of Roger (Ponte Preta), João Paulo (Santa Cruz), Wálter Montillo (Shandong Luneng), Jonas (America), Gilson (America) and Fernandez (Figueirense).
Key players: Rodrigo Pimpão, who led the way to the main round with two decisive goals, played a decisive part in the qualification. One of the most experienced and important players for coach Jair Ventura is however the captain and goalkeeper Jefferson.
Coach: 37-year-old Jair Ventura started his coach career at Botafogo in 2009 and has been working for the club since then. Since 2016, he has been a chef coach and has now led the team into the Copa Libertadores’ first round, which can be seen as his biggest success so far.
Chefutbol prediction: In a giant group, defending Atlético Nacional as a clear favorite, it will be very difficult for Botafogo to reach the next round.
