Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Internacional awaits

Chivas de Guadalajara faces a critical stretch in the coming four days. While their league fate will be decided on the weekend, the club's got a Brazilian powerhouse coming in for an international showdown.

Chivas hosts Internacional in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana semifinals tonight in Estadio Jalisco. Chivas has reached the semifinals of Copa Libertadores twice before but failed to advance to the final. If Chivas can get past this round, the club would play in their first South American tournament finale.

But first things first. Chivas has to get past Internacional, who won Copa Libertadores in 2006.

Cancha of course has tonight's preview covered. Their keys to the game:

- Chivas has to attack on the flanks to take advantage of Omar Arellano's speed; Alberto Medina would do well to start also.
- Alex will be dangerous and Chivas would do well to put either a defender (Ocampo) or defensive midfielder (Araujo) on him exclusively.
- The midfield needs to be much tighter than it was against River Plate; if they give up the same type and number of chances as they did against River, Chivas will be in trouble.

Possible lineups
Chivas: Hernandez; Ocampo, Reynoso, Mejia; Morales, Araujo, Fabian, Baez; Santana, Arellano, Medina.

Inter: Lauro; Alvaro, Indio, Marcao, Bolivar; Guinazu, Edinho, Magrao; Andrezinho, Nilmar, Alex.

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