6-07-07 - It’s Boca!
Argentines Rout Cúcuta 3-0, Will Face Grêmio for Libertadores Title

Perennial powers Boca Juniors will be Grêmio’s opponent in the Libertadores Cup finals. The Argentines overcame a 3-1 first leg deficit by routing Cúcuta 3-0 at historic La Bombonera Stadium to reach their first finals since 2004. Boca will host Grêmio in the first leg next Wednesday, with the return leg scheduled for June 20th in Porto Alegre.

The five-time champions are no strangers to the Libertadores Cup finals. This will be their ninth appearance overall and fifth since 2000. They were victorious in 2000, 2001 and 2003, while losing the 2004 title to Colombia’s Once Caldas. Of concern to Grêmio is Boca’s Libertadores Cup playoff record against Brazilian clubs. The Argentines beat Palmeiras in the 2000 finals, Vasco (quarterfinals) and Palmeiras (semifinals) in their 2001 campaign, Paysandu (Round of 16) and Santos (finals) in 2003, and São Caetano (Round of 16) in 2004.

Of note is the fact that the only other team to face São Paulo, Santos and Boca Juniors in the same tournament ended up winning the cup. In 2004, Once Caldas beat Santos in the quarterfinals, São Paulo in the semis, and Boca in the finals. Hopefully, history will repeat itself.