Former Argentina coach Daniel Passarella, sacked by Corinthians last year after only 15 matches, has a chance to exact revenge when his River Plate side face the Brazilian champions in the Libertadores Cup.Wednesday’s third-round first-leg match in Buenos Aires also means that Argentina forward Carlos Tevez will make a return visit to the stadium where he was infamously sent off for a chicken impersonation. Tevez played for River’s arch-rivals Boca Juniors before his $18 million move to Corinthians at the end of 2004 and scored a late goal during a stormy River-Boca match in the same competition two years ago. He celebrated by flapping his wings — River are mockingly known as The Hens by rival supporters — and was promptly sent off. Boca won the semi-final tie on penalties after the aggregate score ended 2-2. “It’s just another important game for Corinthians and for me,†said Tevez after his team’s 3-0 win over Sao Caetano in the Brazilian championship at the weekend. Tevez was briefly coached by Passarella at Corinthians before Argentina’s 1978 World Cup captain was unceremoniously fired two months into a one-year contract following a 5-1 defeat by Sao Paulo. Passarella is one of five coaches who have been employed by Corinthians since they signed a multi-million dollar partnership deal with London-based investors Media Sports investments in 2004. The current coach is Adhemar Braga, former assistant to Antonio Lopes who became the latest casualty when he resigned under pressure in March, just three months after winning the Brazilian title. The tie is by far the most attractive in the last 16.
ALL-BRAZIL CLASH
Both teams were among the pre-tournament favourites and are meeting in the last sixteen because of River’s surprisingly poor performance in the group phase. After suffering a spate of injuries, River lost all three away games in Group 8 and scraped through in second place by winning all their home games at the Monumental stadium. The action starts on Tuesday when Argentina’s Estudiantes, coached by 1986 World Cup winner Jorge Burruchaga, host Brazilians Goias in Buenos Aires. The same evening, LDU, whose team forms the backbone of Ecuador’s World Cup squad, entertain Colombia’s Atletico Nacional at 2 800 metres above sea level in Quito. Two of Brazil’s five representatives meet Wednesday but it is an unappetising prospect. Defending champions Sao Paulo face local rivals Palmeiras in a repeat of a third-round tie which produced two of the worst matches in last year’s tournament, the sides sharing more than 60 fouls in the second leg alone. Sao Paulo are hot favourites while Palmeiras, led by former Brazil coach and goalkeeper Emerson Leao, are in disarray after some shocking recent results and behaviour. They lost 6-1 to Figueirense in the Brazilian championship at the weeked and have had defender Douglas, midfielder Alceu and forward Enilton suspended for four South American games each. The trio all took part in a pitched battle during a group match at home to Paraguayan champions Cerro Porteno earlier this month. Mexico’s two teams are both at home with Guadalajara — missing six players called up for Mexico’s pre-World Cup training camp — playing Colombia’s Santa Fe on Wednesday and UANL hosting Paraguay’s Libertad in Monterrey on Thursday. Three-times former champions Nacional of Uruguay are at home to Internacional on Thursday while an all-Argentine match between Newell’s Old Boys wagering and Velez Sarsfield completes the week’s action the same evening.
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