Boca heaped more misery on Gremio as they defeated the Brazilians 0-2 in Brazil to add a 6th Copa Libertadores title to their pedigree, only 1 behind compratrioits Independiente.

Requilme struck a brace in the 2nd half of the 2nd leg to add to the 3 unanswered goals Boca scored in the 1st leg in Argentina.

The on-loan veteran Requilme, who hit 3 of the 5 goals, will be celebrating the end of his return with the return of trophy-winning form for Boca, as they have endured a small title draught since the loss of manager Basile a few seasons ago.

The victory now puts the Argentine giants on course for the World Club Championship later in the year to keep their trophy drive alive.

The taste of trophies should, however, push Boca to recapture their league form. With 2 consecutive 2nd place finishes in the Argentine league, Boca will now be looking to set their league form aright when the league championship resumes.

 

It was always going to take a bunch of goals–just as I predicted–for my teams to get into the Finals, and goals it was as both Santos and Boca Juniors, finding themselves at the foot of the mountain after the 1st leg, hit for 3 at home.

Having lost 3-1 in Colombia, Boca needed a scoreline of 2-0 back at home (as they had the luxury of an away goal) to get past Cinderella-side Cucuta. Riquelme scored the 1st goal right before half-time while Palermo put Boca in the driver’s seat in the 2nd half. Substitute striker, Battaglia then added the insurance, and the smooth sailing, into the Finals at the final whistle.

Santos also scored 3 as they too faced a 2 goal 1st leg deficit at the hands of Gremio; unfortunately, it was only after Gremio had opened the scoring to get the vital away goal in the 2nd leg. Three goals down, Santos finally started to get its offensive engine running as they scored 3 unanswered goals in vain–as Gremio stole the limelight (despite the loss) and have booked their Finals appearance.

So, as most would anticipate, it’s Brazil vs. Argentina again this time around, and while Brazil usually edges out Argentina in the National side of things, this time it will be Buenos Aires over Porto Alegre in another Boca Copa Libertadores conquest.

Well, savages, it looks like I am on the wrong side of this one after the 1st leg action of the Copa Libertadores and will need nothing short of some miracles to keep pace with my predictions.

The fact that Gremio takes a 2 goal lead into Santos is not as bad as Boca returning home with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Cucuta, and though it all may seem a little dour now, I haven’t lost faith just yet.

While it seems Santos was not prepared for the first outing, you would never put it past a Brazilian team to mirror the first score and take the tie into penalties. Having said that though, if Gremio scores an away goal, then it looks like the blue-and-blacks will be in the final.

Boca, on the other hand, have much more to worry about. Even though they have the all important away goal, the fact they gave up 3 unanswered goals shows they have become a little sloppy and didn’t take the Colombian side seriously.

Now Cucuta has the opportunity to become the Once Caldas of a few years ago (another Colombian side that had a shock win back in 2004) with a positive result in Argentina. Even if Cucuta defeats Boca, I do believe their giant killing ways will fall short in the final.

Otherwise, I am still on for my initial predictions, calling a total turn around for both Santos and Boca.