Welcome Jan Venido spendingdu to the soccer metrics coup of the Bertadora Show, part of the SDH network, the only English language show to vite to South America's premier club competition. I'm your host Howard Hamilton, the founder of soccer Metrics. The couple of Bertadora's returns this week with action the group stage. Four teams have perfect records. Eight teams have yet to register a point. It's not too late to
reverse course. Last year's champions Bolta Fogo lost their first two group stage matches, but the time to get the Libertador's campaign back on track is now. In this episode, a preview of the sixteen matches that make up the third match day of the group stage. Now the third match day features in cameras between the top two teams of the group, the seeds one and two the group, and teams seeded third and fourth. The second seed team will host the first seed team and the fourth seed
team will host the third seeded team. The featured matches this week are Lea Keito versus Flamengo in Group C, Libertad versus Salpolo and Group D and Believe Our versus pom Maras in Group GI. Now in grip C, Lego will host Flamengo in Quito. Liga are the current defending champions of Ecuador and they're sixth in Ecuador's Lega Pro, having defeated Alcus three to one Flamengo for their part our second in the Brazila Raal drawing goalless with Vasco
de Gama. Liga currently lead the group and Flamengo are a point behind in third place. Now Lega have some have a couple of vimpe issues with Alex Domingo suspended, but everyone else who has seen minutes will be available for a selection. The key player for Ligo will be Brian Riverirez. He was the best player versus Alcus on
the weekend. He started to get looks for selection for the Ecuadoria national team and the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, and he is a creative and goal scoring force for l e U. But also the play of Gonzala Plata is important. He is the most valuable player for LIGAH. He has scored two goals and registered three assists in
league play. Now that play hasn't carried over to Liberta Doris competition yet, but they're gonna need his They're gonna need his contributions in Liberta Doors matches in order to go further in this tournament. As for Flamengo, they're trying to bounce back from the Marcanaso versus Central Court of about two weeks ago. They haven't had much time to train between between that match and domestic obligations, and the manager has not had much time to train the squad.
An ecuador or Selected eleven, this is a Flamenco side that has struggled in the past at altitude. In matches over twenty five hundred meters, they've won only thirty one percent of the points available, and specifically in Ecuador more and even more specifically in Quito, which is the high altitude region of the country. They have registered only one win in the last forty years three two victory versus
Liga in Libertadors in twenty twenty, the COVID year. Flamenco have a number of players who are unavailable, Alexandro Alan and Nico de la Cruz, who is their biggest loss. As a result, Flamego will rely even more on their key midfielder Georgia and de Ariscueta deor Aguayan is not only their most important creator in midfield, he has become their leading goal scorer this season. It's a really interesting match that will be played in Ecuador. In Group D
Libert Todd will host South Polo and Auciencio. Libert Todd lost their most recent league match versus square And three to one. That was their first defeat of the year across all competitions, and they still have a large league in Paraguay's Upper Tour competition. As for Sal Paolo, they defeated Santos two to one and currently lie in tenth place in the Berzi Lareo. This is one of the two top of the group clashes in libert There's play this week. Libert Todd leading group of six points, whilst
Apolo half four. Libert Todd are also one of the four teams yet to allow goal in Group states play. Their top performer has been lauren So Malgrejo with seven goals and Uga Martinez in central midfield with five assists across all competitions. As for Sal Paulo, they have a number of players who are out a number of significant
players with significant injuries. They include Lucas Mora, all Scar Luis Gustavo with a pulmonary embolism and Pablo Maya, but their most significant injury occurred in the most in the last few days when Jonathan Calary suffered an acl tair. He's about to have surgery this week and will be out for the remainder of the season. So as a result, Lucas Subelli, a manager of salth Paolo, has had some significant challenges, but he's had a respite with their most
recent league win. He will choose to rely on Arena and Andre Silva, who has become the leading goal scorer in twenty twenty five. So that's the encountering Group D and Group G. Believer will play in La Paz versus Palmyras. Believe are currently third in Bolivia's Premier to Vision, having defeated Guabira on the road. Palmeres are the leaders of the Brazila Rao, having defeated Forteles away two to one. This is the second of the two top of the
group clashes. Palmyra's lead the group on six points, while Believe Ar are currently second on three. Now Believer has seen some momentum carry over from new league match play. Their offense is firing and they are capable of finishing off teams in the last fifteen minutes in league play. Their weaknesses, however, are a poor defense in a midfield that turns the ball too often in the sent of the field, putting pressure on the defense having to defend
the short field. As for Paul Maras, they're currently leading the Brazilian competition. This is a side that has the best squad in Brazil. If you look at transfer valuations, they're arguably the best squad in the Americas, and this is the best start to a league that they have ever had. Wetherton has continued to has continued to be the best keeper for Pro Maras in the BRAZILA raw and in all competitions. This is a very efficient side
and therefore a very dangerous side. They've won six straight across all competitions and they're going to be a significant challenge for Bolivar at altitude. Now, the rest of the matches in Group A, we have Studient have to say a plota hosting Beltafogo the holders. This is almost a six pointer for both sides. Carabobo the Venus will inside without a point host University Chile, so Chile University God having to make that long trip to the far north
of the continent. Caraboo have been a tougher out than their record has indicated. The other teams have really struggled to register wins against them. I don't expect University God to be any different, but I also don't expect University Dodd to finish with less than the point. In Group B, Independende del Bay will host River plate Either. They are a point behind River and this is a match in
which both sides need to win. The other Group B man match features Barcelona Gaya Kiel hosting Ubercitario la Ou pointless in group stage competition so far, Group C will see the surprising group leaders Central Kordeva hosting Venezuela's Depertiva Tatra, another side without points. Group D will see Alianza Lima hosting Taijieras and Cauter between the botom two sides of Group D. This is a must win for Latta, who are also one of the sides without a point in
group stage play. Group dcs Colo Colo host Grassing Glube and I'm actually played behind closed doors after the tragedy that happened two weeks ago. Rassing for their part, are looking to bounce back after a surprise loss to Altkubu Karamanga, who will be hosting Fortalsa in the other group stage match, the home side looking to consolidate first in the group. In Group F, Internacional will host Nacional. The Porto Alegre side leading a Group Nacional without a point. Baiya will
host Atletico Nacional in the northern part of Brazil. In Group G stral Portagno will host Sporting Cristal. Cristal fighting to get back into the top three race. They have zero points, but if they win their match and the other match does not have a different result, the group will tighten up. And in Group H, Olympia under new management,
will host Tricky Penny Roll. Olympia are looking to get out the map after suffering a four nail home defeat to Vella Sarsfield, but Penrol will be a very difficult proposition for them. And in the other group stage match, San Antonio Bulobulo will host Fellas Sarsfield. And the big question that I have is can Vellis find more away goals. It's going They're going to need some against the San
Antonio side that have not been straightforward to solve. Now as a reminder that over the next three days you can follow all sixteen of these matches on either Fiinalts, Fubo Sports, or YouTube where the radio broadcast will be streamed. And if you want to follow me and said the comment or question, my ex handle is at soccer Metrics. You've also send questions or comments to at soccer down here or to Jason Longshore at long Shoe. I'll be back later in the week to review the third match
day of the group stage. This has been the Soccer Metrics Copa Libertador Show, proudly part of the SDH network. Okay, see you later. Also the wago Hey activis