2020 Copa Libertadores / 2020 Copa Sudamericana

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

Palmeiras - Santos is apparently called "the nostalgia derby". I like that.

[Tony C]

Just been watching the whole of Santos -Boca Juniors on BBC Iplayer. Was it live on BBC last night?

[cantagalo]

Yes it was.

[Tony C]

Ah. Just watching Palmeiras - River Plate now which I also missed. This is a very good game but sadly I know the result. Not a great one for me either - I've always had a soft spot for River.

[EIM]

It's a tough one, the River v Boca thing. Because are, essentially, a successful West Ham, which is in no one's interests. A contrived, working class image, salt of the earth, love their mum, only kill their own. And equally the idea that River Plate fans are all posh, regency dandies, still suckling champagne from their wet nurse's teat into their mid 20s is also slightly overblown. The truth is that both clubs are fucking enormous and supported by all types of everyone.

But, while both have excellent kits, and gorgeous, evocative, historic grounds, there's still something about that blue and yellow shirt and La Bombonera that will always do it for me. It's purely an aesthetic decision, but football is 50% aesthetics anyway.

[Tony C]

It's a tough one, the River v Boca thing. Because are, essentially, a successful West Ham, which is in no one's interests. A contrived, working class image, salt of the earth, love their mum, only kill their own. And equally the idea that River Plate fans are all posh, regency dandies, still suckling champagne from their wet nurse's teat into their mid 20s is also slightly overblown. The truth is that both clubs are fucking enormous and supported by all types of everyone.

But, while both have excellent kits, and gorgeous, evocative, historic grounds, there's still something about that blue and yellow shirt and La Bombonera that will always do it for me. It's purely an aesthetic decision, but football is 50% aesthetics anyway.

Yes, I always think that River tend to come off worse in the contrived class war nonsense that surrounds the two clubs (who were both formed in the same barrio anyway) so that's why I side with them a little. The kit also sways it for me but my fond memories of Peru 1970 prevail.
My time living in Madrid highlighted this kind of nonsense too. I taught at a fairly prestigious fee paying school attended by the children of high earners and old money living in the most elite barrios in the city - and a substantial amount of them were Atletico season ticket holders

[fatbear]

I've never liked Boca. I think it started when I learned that Diego Maradona played over 150 games for Argentinos Juniors but was always portrayed as being a product of Boca Juniors.

I first started watching football from Argentina when it was shown on Screensports in the very early 1990s, showing a complete match on a Monday evening from the weekend. Argentinos Juniors had a left back called Carlos McAllister, and the name stood out. His son now plays for Brighton.....

[Tony C]

That's Alexis MacAllister. He has two brothers in Argentina who play for Talleres and Argentinos Juniors.

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

Final's tonight at 8 GMT on the BBC red button. I'm a little disappointed that after all the fuss they made about having the rights to it, it's not on BBC2 at least.

[cantagalo]

Probable teams.

Palmeiras

Weverton
Marcos Rocha
Luan
Gustavo Gomez
Vina
Danilo
Ze Rafael
Raphael Veiga
Gabriel Menino
Rony
Luis Adriano

Santos

John
Para
Lucas Verissimo
Luan Peres
Felipe Jonatan
Alison
Diego Pituca
Marinho
Lucas Braga
Soteldo
Kaio Jorge

[jason voorhees]

Saw both of these teams in their stadiums 2 years ago. Too bad I can't post pictures.

I'd imagine 55% chance of Santos winning by 2 goals, 45% chance of Palmeiras in penals.

[Tony C]

Looking forward to watching Yeferson Soteldo again - he was extremely good in the semi-final second leg. A really exciting player.

[cantagalo]

Team correction: Sandry instead of Lucas Braga for Santos. More defensive midfielder for a pacy attacker.

[cantagalo]

Looking forward to watching Yeferson Soteldo again - he was extremely good in the semi-final second leg. A really exciting player.

Me too. Look out for Marinho as well. He could be a sensational match winner - or completely awful.

I'm hoping Santos do it but either team would be worthy winners. Make the most of them before the considerable amount of young talent on show departs for Europe this summer.

And it would mark 10 years since the Neymar/Ganso generation Santos won it. That makes me feel very old.

[cantagalo]

Cuca has his Virgin Mary T-shirt on again.

https://twitter.com/_gabriel2santos/...858733573?s=20

[cantagalo]

Excellent. They've got Tim Vickery in.

[cantagalo]

Behind closed doors? There's a sizeable number of people on the camera side of the Maracan?.

[Tony C]

Vickery just likened the game to a "three course meal where the dessert is the best part".

Not sure the starter course had been delivered yet.

[jason voorhees]

Palmeiras has done a great job choking the game right out of the Fortnite Flunkies.

Santos has absolutely no room, no space, no oxygen to breathe.

[jason voorhees]

Here's the theme song for the favorite activity of the players so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYnFIRc0k6E

Truly Neymar-inspired.

[cantagalo]

Hoping for a better second half.

[ursus arctos]

https://twitter.com/danedwardsgoal/status/1355624383470071810

[Tony C]

When you think about it, that Red Star Belgrade/Marseille CL final wasn't so bad was it?

[cantagalo]

It should be said that a fairly high proportion of Brazilian league games are like this.

[jason voorhees]

In the future they should make both teams do a half-marathon then do a Brasilian Jiu Jitsu match for 75 minutes and then start the game. This has been great since the 75th minute.