Ten Matches To Watch, The Americas: Corinthians Take Brazil Lead To Internacional

The time zones make it easy for those trying to keep track of the game abroad. In the morning, it’s Europe. In the evening, it’s South America.

We’ve given you a road map for the other side of the Atlantic. Below, our ten matches to watch south to the border, from the Rio Grande to Tierra del Fuego: Ten Matches to Watch in the Americas.

Catolica, Colo Colo and Universidad de Chile are in a three team race atop the Chilean Primera, La U leading Catolica by one, Colo Colo by three. The race is threatening to add a fourth club thanks to a run by Audax Italiano that’s seen the Floridians unbeaten since a May visit from Palestino. In that time, they’ve drawn at La U and won at Colo Colo.

On Saturday, they look to take points from another big club, though time is likely running out. With eight matches left in the season, they trail La U by eight, and with three teams to jump, the odds are slim the whole trio will stumble.

Still, if Mauro Olivi - with eight goals in his last eight matches - can stay hot, Audax Italiano could yet have an impact on the title race, particularly given their final match of the season: at home against La U.

#9. Deportivo Cuenca versus Barcelona, Ecuadorian Primera A, Sunday, 1:00 p.m.

Cuenca and Barcelona have let league leading LDU Quito have some breathing room, and although the second stage of the season is only at its half-way mark, the loser of Sunday’s match could find themselves out of the race for first. Liga is hosting ESPOLI, against whom you have to assume they’ll get three points. That would put them eight ahead of Cuenca, should the home team lose. If Barcelona falls, they’ll be ten back. With ten matches left in the season and Liga yet to lose a game this phase, both Cuenca and Barcelona need three points.

#8. Universitario versus Alianza Lima, Peruvian Primera, Saturday, 5:00 p.m.

It’s still Peru’s La U versus Alianza Lima, though early in the second stage, there’s already a huge gap between Liguilla A-leading Universidad San Martin and this pair. Still, these two clubs have combined for 47 Peruvian first division titles - just under half of the league’s total championships. Divided into the same half of the league’s second phase, we will get two of these match-ups between now and the end of the year.

Two of the biggest clubs in Brazil, though neither are living-up to expectations. Flamengo was thought likely to regress after last year’s title, having lost their most talented player this summer, but sitting fifteenth - five points above relegation - is shocking. Having won only twice in their last 15 matches, Fla’s trending down. The big question is where the trend stops.

Palmeiras has been better, sitting ninth in the league, but they can’t find goals. The Verdão have only 25 goals in 24 matches.

#6. Morelia versus Toluca, Mexican Primera, Sunday, 1:00 p.m.

Morelia’s in the middle of a small slide, having taken only one point from their lst three matches. As a result, they’ve fallen out of a Liguilla spot, though nine matches remain. Morelia’s looking at Sunday’s visit from the Red Devils as a change to reverse course, though the Monarchs are winless in their last four against Toluca.

Toluca, on the other hand, have won three of four and sit tied atop Group B, having regained the form that won them the Bicentennario. While Group B is thought to be the Apertura’s weakest, a run of results from the Devils could see B shape-out a lot like Group C, where Cruz Azul has pulled away from a cluster of clubs, including Morelia.

#5. Santos versus Cruziero, Brazilian Serie A, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Cruziero’s undefated in nine, having won seven of those, their only blemishes coming at Vacso and Botafogo. While A Raposa has been fortunate with penalty kicks, own goals, and red cards during that span, they’ve still clawed themselves into third place, clear of a tightening fight for the fourth and final Libertadores spot.

Midfielder Walter Montillo, acquired this summer from Universidad de Chile, has five goals in nine matches since moving to Brazil.

On Saturday, Cruziero takes on a Santos team that’s moving in the other direction. It seems unlikely the loss of Robinho is to blame, as the Neymar and Marcel combination is still providing goals. The loss of Paulo Henrique Ganso to knee injury may be a cause, but what stands-out about Santos’s recent, four points in five games run is their defending. In that time, they’ve allowed eight goals, their only clean cheet a scoreless draw at Guarani.

Perhaps the loss of two stars makes them appear more vulnerable in the eyes of opponents.

Perhaps there’s something I’m missing.

#4. Botafogo versus Atletico Paranaense, Brazilian Serie A, Sunday, 3:00 p.m.

Not the biggest match on the Brazilian docket, but per the teams’ places in the standings, this might be the most important. Botafogo sits fourth, one point ahead of Internacional, two ahead of Atlético Paranaense, who they welcome to the Engehão on Sunday. Atlético’s won three on the trot, including last week’s victory over Internacional. Now they set their sites on a Botafogo team who, after tearing through summer with one loss in 13 matches between mid-July and mid-September, has one point from their last three, giving up eight goals in the process. Atlético is not the most potent team, with only 29 goals in 24 matches, but against a laeky Botafogo defense, Bruno Mineiro and Kaikon Leite will see more than their usual number of chances.

#3. América versus Santos Laguna, Mexican Primera, Sunday, 5:30 p.m.

The disappointment surrounding Santos is more of a slight malaise. Between recent league results and CONCACAF Champions League form, they don’t seem to be the same squad that burst out of the gates in the Apertura, won their first four matches and scorched early Champions League opponents. Since, they’re won two and lost two in league while falling to second place in their Champions League group. Though they’re tied wtih Monterrey atop Group A, they’re still seven points ahead of third place Tigres. They can afford to be ho-hum, if they want.

América’s disappointment is more long-term. There was a feeling (not so long ago) that things were about ready to click for the Aguilas, but they’ve failed to make it out of the Liguilla’s first round in the last two tournaments. Perhaps qualifying should be looked at as enough, but this team’s better than that. To this point in the Apertura, they’ve failed to show it, sitting barely inside the Liguilla spots.

#2. Estudiantes versus Boca Juniors, Argentine Primera, Saturday, 3:20 p.m.

It’s been a tough week for Estudiantes, losing to newly promoted All Boys before being eliminated from Sudamericana by Newell’s Old Boys. The last thing El León would want to see are even more boys. A Juniors may be too close. Alas, Boca continues to struggle, themselves having recently lost to All Boys. Yet, with two wins in a row, Boca’s pulled themselves into tenth place early in the tournament, only seven matches into a 19-game schedule.

Estudiantes, for their struggles, still sits a healthy fourth, only two points behind league leading San Lorenzo.

And ultimately, it’s Boca and Esutdiantes. Between historic and recent successes, there’s only so much context this match needs.

#1. Internacional versus Corinthians, Brazilian Serie A, Sunday, 3:00 p.m.

The continental champions versus the leaders in Brazil, Inter could take advantage of Botafogo-Atléico Paranaense’s meeting to vault back into fourth place. With fourteen rounds left in Brazil, there’s still plenty of time to track down first, particularly considering they play the leaders on Sunday. Corinthians have a two point lead on Fluminense (nine on Internacional) but need a win at the Beira-Rio to maintain their place, with Fluminense at mid-table Vitoría.

Should they get their win, Corinthians will run their win streak to four matches, looking to win a league they re-joined only last year.