Ten Matches to Watch - The Americas

Leagues throughout the Americas have started, with early stories in Ecuador and Peru drawing our attention away from Brazil's state championships and the Copa Libertadores.

One reminder, before we get to the list:  The Chilean league postponed its matches this weekend because of last week's earthquake.  For information on how you can help, here is a link to information on how you can help the American Red Cross's Chile relief efforts.

Now, the list!

10.  Nacíonal versus Guaraní, Paraguayan Division Profesional -  An opening round win over Libertad has vaulted Guaraní, 26 years without a title, to second place, the league's only team without a loss.  In Montevideo on Saturday, Guaraní will get their second test of the tournament.  Nacional is a league power, though Copa Libertadores is distracting from their domestic campaign.  The Clausura champions have lost three of their six matches, but with the international break temporarily alleviating Nacíonal's travel commitments, expect Guaraní to join the ranks of the defeated.

9. Jaguares versus Guadalajara, Mexican Primera Division - Until they drop points, Guadalajara's matches will get my attention.  They are eight rounds into the Bicentenario, have eight wins and has scored 19 goals.  They'll face little opposition this weekend from Jaguares, one of two winless teams in the tournament.  Come Monday, Guadalajara will likely be twelve points up in their group.

8.  Santo André versus Botafogo SP, Brazilian Paulista - The two teams behind Santos in the Paulista will meet in Santo André this weekend.  Botafogo is five points back of Santo André and nine behind Santos, having won only once in their last five matches.  Santo André, on the other hand, have won six in a row thanks to leading goal scorer Rodriguinho (10 goals, 12 appearances) and a the young midfield with Gil, Ale, and Bruno Cesar.  They augment an attack that's scored 29 goals, second in the Paulista.  Botafogo is the Paulista's best defensive team, having allowed only eight goals in 12 matches.

7.  Fluminense versus Botafogo, Brazilian Carioça - Botafogo was the surprise winner the Taça Guanabara, beating Flamengo and Vasco de Gama in the playoff.  They are off to a perfect start through two rounds of the Taça Rio, not surprising in a tournament where the big four (Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Vasco) dominate.  This weekend, Botafogo catches another of that quartet, with a perfect Fluminense holding a 8:1 goal ratio ahead of this match.  Fred, Everton, and Dario Conca each have two goals for Flu in the tournament's second half.

6.  Monterrey versus Pachuca, Mexican Primera Division -  After Monterrey's lackluster InterLiga performance and the loss of Humberto Suazo, I backed off my analysis that had the Rayados as one of the Bicentenario's favorites.  Proving against that I know <1% of what I think I do, Monterrey has been on of the stronger teams this tournament, sitting at the top of their group going into this weekend's match with Pachuca.  The Tuzos, who had such an impressive start to the Bicentenario, are winless in three and risks, if they don't find their form, being drawn into the same playoff battle they lost at the end of the Apertura.

For more on the weekend in Mexico you can read Eben Lehman's work at Set Piece.

Here, you can see in the poll (below) the matches comprising my top five.  Click the link below the poll to see the order.

5.  Independiente Medellín versus Junior, Colombian Primera A - Independiente and Junior each have 14 points, three behind league leading Real Cartegena, seven rounds into the Colombian season.  With only eight goals in seven matches, Independiente clearly miss Jackson Martínez, who has moved to Jaguares in Mexico.  For Junior, scoring has not been a problem, averaging just under two per match, with forward tandem Martin Arzuaga and Victor Cortes each already tallying three goals.

4.  Sporting Cristal versus León de Huánuco, Peruvian Primera Division -The top two teams in Peru meet in Lima on Sunday, both clubs perfect through the league's first three matches.  León has already defeated Alianza Lima and Juan Aurich, having allowed only one goal through three matches.  Sporting Cristal have a win over a Universitario side that is (shockingly) on no points through three rounds.  Sporting has scored eight but allowed four in that time.

3.  Emelec versus Barcelona, Ecuadorian Primera A - Emelec is coming off an embarrassing loss last week at LDU Quito, 0-5.  This week, they host second place Barcelona, who have yet to lose and have only allowed one goal in four matches.  Going back to last tournament, Barcelona has only lost once in their last twelve matches:  a 4-0 loss at LDU Quito.  Perhaps Sunday will serve as a needed therapy session:  two teams dealing with bad memories.

2.  Independiente versus River Plate, Argentine Primera Division - I'm not a supporter, but for some reason I'm starting to get excited about the prospect of Independiente competing for the Clausura, and since I don't like things I can't explain, I'm worried.  But enough about me.  When Independiente and River Plate play there's always some spectacle to the match, but with River coming off a good win over San Lorenzo (and now undefeated in three), this could actually be a quality - in addition to a big name - match.

1.  Deportivo Quito versus LDU Quito, Ecuadorian Primera A - Defending champions Deportivo Quito had been suspended from play early last week but had that suspension lifted before last week's match after paying off their debts.  Those debts were owned to the league and former players, with an Ecuadorian tax lien also impacting the club.  As further punishment, Deportivo Quito - with only one win in four to start the season - gets LDU, who have scored 11 goals while allowing one two.  Hernan Barcos leads the league with four goals.

For more on the Ecuadorian league you can tune into the Set Piece Analysts' daily podcast, as we spend a few minutes talking about the Quito derby, starting at the 42 minute mark of Friday's show.