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By Brian Homewood RIO DE JANEIRO, May 9 - Brazilian champions Santos
need only a draw at home to Bolivar to reach the last 16 of the
Libertadores Cup as the group stage ENDS this week. Elsewhere, Atletico Paranaense, America and Independiente
Medellin will fight for the two places in Group One, Universidad
de Chile are firm favourites to follow Sao Paulo through from
Group Three and Palmeiras look likely to join Cerro Porteno, who
have qualified from Group Four. Santos and Ecuador's LDU have emerged as firm favourites to
qualify from Group Two after both sides broke the mould of home
wins last month, Santos winning away to Danubio and LDU holding
Bolivar in La Paz. Santos lead with nine points from five games, followed by
Bolivar and LDU on seven and Uruguayan champions Danubio on six. Bolivar, notoriously poor travellers, visit Santos on
Wednesday while LDU entertain Danubio at high altitude in Quito
the same evening. Although the onus will be on Bolivar to win, Pele's former
club are still expecting to face a massed defence at the Vila
Belmiro. "Every team that comes to the Vila Belmiro puts nine or 10
players behind the ball and it's not going to be any different
against Bolivar," Santos coach Gallo said. "It's up to us to overcome the difficulties." Brazilian championship runners-up Atletico Paranaense, who
lead Group One with 10 points, will progress if they draw at
home to Colombia's Independiente Medellin, who are third with
seven points but have a better goal difference. America, another Colombian team and four-times runners-up,
are second with nine points and are at home to Paraguay's
Libertad, who have been eliminated. Paranaense, coached by former World Cup defender Edinho,
have failed to win their first three games in the Brazilian
championship but have enjoyed better form on the international
stage. Group Three is more clearcut. Brazil's Sao Paulo, who lead with nine points and host
Bolivian championship leaders The Strongest on Wednesday, have
already qualified. Universidad de Chile (8) need only one point away to Quilmes
of Argentina, who are already out. If they lose, The Strongest
(5) must still win at Sao Paulo to go through. Brazil's Palmeiras, winners in 1999 under Luiz Felipe
Scolari, also need a draw at home to Paraguay's Cerro Porteno,
already qualified with 11 points, in Group Four on Thursday. Palmeiras have eight points, three more than their
compatriots Santo Andre, who entertain eliminated Deportivo
Tachira.
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