Copa Libertadores Stat Attack

A record breaking 40 clubs entered this year’s Copa Libertadores, now we are left with just two. Realistically though there’s just one and a half teams still in it with Chivas de Guadalajara already 2-1 down to Internacional before tonight’s trip to Brazil.

Ahead of tonight’s second leg of the final let’s have a look at the vital statistics of the 2010 Copa Libertadores. Each of the 137 games leading up to this point has had its fair share of talking points. On the first day of the competition Chile’s Universidad Católica were beaten 3-2 in Colón de Santa Fe’s “Cementerio de los Elefantes”. Colón’s Brigadier General Estanislao López stadium has earned it’s “Elephant Cemetery” tag as a result of previous giant killings.

One stadium yet to grow its own history is Chivas’ newly opened Estadio Omnilife. The first competitive match in the freshly built stadium saw the Mexican outfit lose their home leg of the Copa Libertadores final to Internacional. Tonight Chivas are in Porto Alegre hoping to overturn the 2-1 deficit and become the first Mexican side to win the prestigious tournament.

Crunching the numbers

Matches played: 137
Home wins: 73
Away wins: 27
Draws: 37
Goals: 324
Goal average per match: 2.36
Biggest win: Cruzeiro 7 - Real Potosi 0 (3rd February, Qualifying round)
Red cards: 73
Penalties awarded: 31 (23 scored)

Top Goalscorers
Thiago Ribeiro (Cruzeiro) 8
Kléber (Cruzeiro) 7
José Fernández (Alianza) 7
Luis Tejada (Juan Aurich) 6
Giuliano (Internacional) 5
Washington (Sao Paulo) 5
Rodolfo Gamarra (Libertad) 5
James Rodríguez (Banfield) 5
Mauro Boselli (Estudiantes) 4
Santiago Silva (Vélez) 4
Hernán López (Vélez) 4
Juan Morales (U. Católica) 4
Omar Bravo (Guadalajara) 4
Alecsandro (Internacional) 4

Los Millonarios struggling to afford Bolatti

Time is running out on any deal to bring Mario Bolatti to River Plate, unsurprisingly the major stubbling block is the player’s wage demands.

While River president Daniel Passarella believes “there is still time” to wrap up the transfer a text message from Bolatti to his agent Marcelo Simonian suggests the midfielder will not be heading home anytime soon.

Via SMS the Fiorentina player told Simonian “I’m not moving for that money.”

The Argentinian international currently picks up $1,200,000 a year in Italy but is willing to move to River if they can offer him a one million dollar paypacket.

The three year deal on the table from River nets Bolatti $550,000 in his first year, $600,000 in the second and $650,000 in the third. Bolatti’s basic salary at El Monumental would also be boosted by performance realted bonuses.

Daniel Passarella has said it is impossible to offer any more cash to reunite Bolatti with mentor Ángel Cappa in Núñez.

“If the player wants to be just a back-up at Fiorentina then there’s nothing we can do. If he comes here he will be our top paid player, earning more than Ortega.”

Meanwhile Los Millonarios hope their impressive start to the Apertura season will continue with Mariano Pavone fit for next weekend’s trip to Argentinos Juniors.