Got a cold champagne already

Copa Libertadores
Sao Paulo-Atlético Paranaense: History in the making
(FIFA.com) 11 Jul 2005

It is honours even so far between Sao Paulo and Atlético Paranaense after the 1-1 first leg draw in the Estadio Beira Rio in Porto Alegre. Round two will ultimately decide who lifts the famous trophy, and could also see Paulo Autuori´s side become the first Brazilian team to win the Copa Libertadores on three separate occasions. Their opponents the Furacao, in what will be the most important game in the club's history, will be out to spoil the party and lay claim to the 46th edition of the Copa.

This Thursday's game in the Estadio Morumbí (kick-off 21.45 local time) will be decided by a penalty shoot-out if the sides are even after 120 minutes. In the Final, unlike in previous rounds, the away goals rule is not applied. So Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo may well find himself overseeing 30 minutes of extra-time followed by penalty kicks before one team prevails.

It is also worth noting that teams with home advantage in the second leg do not always get their hands on the Copa. In the previous 45 editions of the tournament, the team with home advantage in the deciding leg have taken the title just 17 times, while the visitors have been successful on 15 occasions. The remaining 13 were decided by a third match played on a neutral ground.

Sao Paulo's proud record
Both Sao Paulo and Atlético Paranaense can take heart from the statistics going into this decisive encounter, although on the surface the Tricolores would appear to have the edge on their rivals. Autuori´s team have not lost at home in the Copa Libertadores, within normal time, since 8 May 1987 when Chile's Colo Colo came away from the Morumbí clutching a 2-1 win. Since then Sao Paulo can boast an impressive run of 25 wins and just three draws from 28 games played.

"Sao Paulo haven't lost at home in the Libertadores for 18 years, which means we'll be trying to rewrite history in their stadium," declared Atlético Paranaense goalkeeper Diego, who put in a great performance in the first leg.

"It's an advantage playing the decider at home and having the stats in our favour, but that won't mean anything if we don't back it up with a good performance," pointed out coach Paulo Autuori.

However, the last time that Sao Paulo played the title decider at home, luck was not on their side. In the 1994 Final the Tricolores beat Argentina's Velez Sarsfield 1-0, only to go down 5-3 on penalties. With that defeat, the Paulistas spurned the opportunity to win the continental crown for the third time, something that no Brazilian team has achieved.

Perhaps the biggest supporter Sao Paulo will have on the day is their striker Grafite. Despite suffering a serious knee injury in the first leg of the quarter-final against Tigres, which will keep him out for several months, the player is desperate to be in the thick of things, cheering his team on. "I'm going to ask coach Autuori´s permission to go to the Morumbí and be with the lads. I know it's not the same as being out on the pitch, but I can do my bit from the sidelines," he explains.

Not over yet for the Furacao
Despite only drawing the first-leg 1-1 at "home", the game having been played in Porto Alegre´s Estadio Beira Mar (Paranaense´s Estadio Arena da Baixada does not have the minimum 40,000 capacity required for the Final), the Rojinegro players have not thrown in the towel.

"There's 90 minutes still to play and it can still go either way. The only advantage that Sao Paulo have is playing in their own stadium with their own fans," pointed out keeper Diego.

"We need to play with fire in our bellies, with an iron will, with the spirit of the Copa Libertadores and the true spirit of Atlético Paranaense. If we play like this then we can achieve great things in Sao Paulo. Nothing's been decided yet," added team-mate Cocito after the first game.

Atlético Paranaense´s performance could well come down to the motivational skills of coach Antonio Lopes, who has used the words of Sao Paulo attacker Amoroso to fire up his charges. The Paulista front-man stated after the first game that he hoped to rename the Morumbí the Morumtrí, referring to his side's attempt to win the title for the third time.

The Furacao have a difficult task ahead. History shows that only two teams have gone on to win away from home and take the title after drawing the first-leg. In 1982, Uruguay's Peñarol beat Cobreloa of Chile 1-0, having drawn 0-0 in Montevideo. In 2000, following a 2-2 draw in Buenos Aires, Boca Juniors held Palmeiras to 0-0 before going on to win 4-2 on penalties.

In this year's tournament, the team from Curitiba have won just two of their six games away from home. In the first group phase they overcame América de Cali (2-1) and in the quarter-finals they got the better of Santos (2-0).

One way or another, Thursday night will see a Brazilian team crowned champions of the Copa Libertadores 2005. Will it be Sao Paulo or Atlético Paranaense? Place your bets now.

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