Dejan Petkovic - along with the likes of Adriano and Vagner Love - are on the way to another title. (Photo: Getty Images)

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The beginning of group stage in Copa Libertadores has added a new dimension to the club calendars, where midweek fixtures, increased travel, and elite competition create an obstacle course for the best clubs in the Americas.

Consider the plight of Monterrey.  After a difficult match this weekend against Toluca, they have to fly to São Paulo to face the former Brasileirão champions, only two off days separating the matches.  Victor Vucetich chose to start his strongest team at Toluca and make whole-sale chances in Brazil.

It make sense.  Monterrey can get out of Group 2 without getting a point at the Morumbi.  So Vucetich made eleven changes, bringing in starters Osvaldo Martínez and Sergio Santana in the second half, with the Rayados down one.  They ended up losing, 2-0, after two goals from Washington.

But as it concerns São Paulo and the other Brazilian sides there is another question:  do they derive a advantage from playing their state championships at this time of year.  The national tournament does not start until May, whereas the Argentina clubs are three matches into their Clausura.

Consider Vélez Sarsfield, who benefitted from a second minute red card to Gilberto in defeating Cruzeiro (2-0) to open group stage.  Vélez is off to a strong start in the Clausura.  They won the same tournament a year ago.  Isn't the decision-making process they are undertaking different, more conflicted than that of São Paulo, who sit seventh in the Paulista?

Clearly, yes, but also consider: there is a reason that most of these leagues play two tournaments a year.  Boca Juniors finished first in Argentina's Apertura in 2008 and then finished mid-table in the Clausura while trying to navigate last year's Copa.  They were able to make that a choice:  We will "go for" the Apertura, knowing Copa will force us to concentrate on the Clausura.

So no need to cry for these clubs facing schedule congestion, a problem to which leagues in the Americas have adjusted.  But as we look at the weekend action, it's important to note:  many of the Copa sides are keeping the RPMs low in league.

Just as with the Europe preview, I will be responding to your feedback.  Want a league focused on?  Let me know in the comments, and as long as you won't get carried away, it will be the next one covered.

Though I do encourage people to get carried away with their comments.  I look forward to it.  I'm just not going to write about the Surinamese Hoofdklasse.

Brazil, Carioca:  No surprise, the big four are into the Taça Guanabara semifinals.  Vasco de Gama hosts Fluminense on Saturday, with Botafogo to face Flamengo in the other semi.  Flamengo and Vasco got through their respective groups without losses, with the newly promoted (to the Serie A) Vasco posting a 19:3 ratio.

Botafogo allowed 13 goals in their seven Group B matches.  Against a Flamengo side that leagues the tournament in goals (21 in seven), Botafogo may need multiple goals from Sebastian Abreu, who has five goals in the Carioca.

Brazil, Mineiro:  Cruzeiro's mid-week disappointment gets salved with a trip to bottom-feeding Caldense, who have only one goal in three matches.  In contrast, Cruzeiro is averaging three goals per match.  Then again, Cruzeiro got smoked (3-0) by Ipatanga two weeks ago, starting a team not entirely devoid of stars.

The league's other name club, Atlético Mineiro has two draws and a win to open the tournament, included a draw last weekend against Ipatanga.  Maybe I should be paying more attention to Ipatanga (who lost their only other match to Tupi).  This weekend, Atlético goes to Uberada (3 pts, 8th place).

Brazil, Paulista:  Consider that Santos' acquisition of Robinho compliments Neymar, leading the Paulista with seven goals, and you have something that can not only compete for the Paulista but also challenge for Copa Libertadores spots, should the club be able to retain the current Manchester City loanee.  The odds on that have to be considered low (for now).  Regardless, Santos's 5-1-1, first place start to the Paulista portend well for their hopes to improve on their 12th place, Serie A finish.

This weekend, Santos hosts Rio Claro (4 points, 19th place) while Botafogo SP (16, 2nd) takes on Palmeiras (12, 6th) in the weekend's big match.

Elsewhere, Corinthians (14, 3rd) has an interesting match at Portuguesa (8, 13th), São Paulo (12, 5th) has a Copa Lib-trap match at Ituano (9, 9th).  Germio Barueri (9, 10th), off to the toughest start for the Serie A sides, hosts Monte Azul (4, 18th).

Brazil, Gaucho:  Gremio is leading their group (Group 1), having posted a 4-2-1 record through the league's first seven matches.  On Saturday, they host EC São José, the second place team in a Group 2 that has have of its eight clubs sitting with a better record than the Imortal.

At the top of that group is Internacional, who go to an Esportivo side that has one win and six losses through seven matches.  Inter has, essentially, played two sides through the tournament, and with Copa Libertadores about to start the Colorado, we may not see the same, strong squad that took the pitch against Avenida last weekend.

Argentina:  League leading Vélez Sarsfield (7 points) visit a San Lorenzo side who, while near the bottom of the table (3 points, 16th),  have had a tough fixture list at the start of the Clausura:  Godoy Cruz (7, 2nd), Estudiantes (6, 3rd), and now Vélez.

The more anticipated match will be Estudiantes visit to Independiente (5, 5th), with El León coming off a 5-1 mid-week Copa victory over Juan Aurich.  Mauro Boselli had a hat-trick.

Elsewhere, Lanús is at Banfield, Godoy Cruz is at Huracán, and River Plate visits Colón.

México:  The headline match is Sunday with Cruz Azul going visiting Estadio Azteca to face Club América.  Both sides disappointed last weekend, with América losing at Atlas (1-0) while La Maquina gave up two late goals at home against Santos (losing 2-0).  While it's too early to worry about either side, Cruz Azul has not won since the opening of the Bicentenario.

Cruz Azul's victory is one more than Toluca, who have put up a 0-3-1 record to start the tournament.  On Saturday, they host Santos, the leaders of Group 3.

And then amongst the clubs that are performing well out of the gate, Morelia (3-0-1) hosts Aguiles-slaying Atlas (3-0-1).

Four matches into the tournament, Chivas is the only team with a perfect record.  They host struggling Atlante (0-2-2).

Chile:  Coming off a 3-0 victory last weekend against Huachipato (who had only allowed two goals in their preceding two matches), Universidad de Chile visits Santiago Wanderers ahead of a mid-week kick-off to their Libertadores.  Juan Olivera already has six goals for La U, who have a one point lead atop the league (nine points, four matches).

Universidad Católica, off their dramatic advancement into the second stage of Copa Lib, still has the league's best point ratio with seven points in three matches.  They have a home match with 15th place Cobresal while Colo-Colo, currently in seventh with six points, was scheduled to take on Ñublense today.

Uruguay:  Peñarol is perfect after three match days, holding a two point lead on Liverpool and Rampla Juniors.  On Saturday, Peñarol goes to Tacuarembó (four points, ninth), Rampla Juniors is at Racing Club (three points in two matches, 12th place).

But the weekend's big match has Nacional going to Liverpool.  Nacional is coming off a surprise loss to Defensor Sporting (three points, 11th), where a 4th minute goal from Diego De Souza held-up.

Cerro, in sixth place (four points), hosts fourth place Atenas (six points).

Paraguay:  Through two match days, Paraguay has three perfect clubs:  Nacional, Guaraní, and Cerro Porteño.

This weekend, Cerro visits Sportivo Trinidense (one point, ninth place), Nacional hosts Sport Colombia (four points, fourth place), and Guaraní is at Rubio Ñú (three, seventh).

Also of note, Libertad (three points, sixth) is at pointless (not purposeless) Tacuary).

Ecuador:  The second week of the Serie A campaign sees LDU Quito host Independiente, one of two teams who won on match day one.  Barcelona, the other winner last weekend, hosts Macará, whose Gabríel Fernandez scored two goals against LDU last weekend.

Deportivo Quito, coming off a draw with newly Copa second round-qualified Emelec, hosts El Nacional, while Emelec goes to ESPOLI.

Colombia:  The beginning to the Colombian season sees their Copa Libertadores participants off to decent, not perfect starts, chasing the two sides that are perfect before this weekend's third round.

Deportes Tolima and Real Cartagena - the two perfect teams - face strong challenges to their one hundred percent records, with Tolima hosting newly Copa ousted Junior (four points, fourth place) while Cartagena hosts last season's finalists, Atlético Huila.

As for those Libertadores survivors, Independiente Medellín (four points, sixth place) visits América (one, fifteenth) and Once Caldas (three, seventh) is at Deportivo Pereira (four, third),

Honduras:  It's still rather shocking to see Marathón at the bottom of the table, even if it's only three matches into the Liga Nacional's season.  One of the league's typical powerhouses, Marathón has only one point ahead of their trip to Deportes Savio (four, fifth).

Another power, Olimpia, hosts Platense (four, sixth) while league-leading Motagua is at ninth place Hispano.

Real Juventud (six, second) is at Victoria (three, seventh).