Neymar, Martinuccio & the five stars ready to light up the Copa Libertadores final
By Daniel Edwards
In the world of South American club football, there is no bigger event than the final of the Copa Libertadores. Thirty-eight teams entered the competition back in January, and five months later the challengers have been whittled down to just two: Penarol of Uruguay, and Brazil's Santos.
The two finalists enjoy a sterling reputation in the tournament, and will hope to add to their trophy cabinets over two legs of action, the first of which is scheduled for this Wednesday in Montevideo's legendary Estadio Centenario. On paper, Santos appear to have the stronger team, boasting some of the finest talents on the continent.
Despite lacking the marquee names of their opponents, however, the Manya have proved time and again that they cannot be written off, and have the quality to succeed against the odds. A stunning victory in Porto Alegre to upset holders Internacional, and the dramatic scenes against Velez Sarsfield in the last round, confirm Diego Aguirre's team as tenacious challengers who will fight to the final whistle.
Goal.com presents the five players who could prove to be match-winners in Montevideo, as an entire continent focuses its attention on the Uruguayan capital.
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In five words: Heart of Santos' Copa challenge |
This is one young star who needs little introduction to followers of South American football. The Brazilian starlet has electrified the world with his performances in the last two years, and should he lift the Copa in his first attempt, a mouth-watering match-up with Lionel Messi and Barcelona awaits in the Club World Cup; should Santos succeed in keeping him at the Vila Belmiro, that is.
With Ganso on the sidelines in the Centenario - a return for the second-leg is forecast - a heavy burden falls on Neymar's young shoulders, as he will be expected to once more be the creative soul of the team: the match-winner. Doubts have been raised over his fragile temperament, but of all the 22 players who will take to the pitch, it is Neymar who can be most relied upon to make the headlines.
| ALEJANDRO MARTINUCCIO | Penarol |
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In five words: Wants to repeat Velez magic |
Argentine No. 10s are slowly but surely gaining a stranglehold on club finals. Lionel Messi put in a match-winning performance against Manchester United to secure the Champions League last month, while over in Brazil Internacional's Andres D'Alessandro reminded the world of his talent by leading his team to Libertadores glory in 2010. Martinuccio does not enjoy such a stellar reputation as these two internationals, but another impressive display on Wednesday could well change that.
The 23-year-old plays in a manner reminiscent of Javier Pastore, with his surging runs from deep and masterful control of the ball, and has been the stand-out talent in an honest if technically-limited Manya side throughout the Copa. The one player in the Uruguayan's line-up who can make the difference in an instant, Santos should not give 'El Negro' a minute's peace if they want to triumph - Velez can attest to that, after seeing his assist put them out at the semi-final stage.
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In five words: Getting better with every game |
While the Peixe's young stars on the field receive most of the plaudits for the final run, it is undeniable that without this fellow graduate of the club's famous academy, their Copa Libertadores campaign could have finished much earlier. Rafael has been a rock for Santos in the knock-out stages, and his saves have been crucial in guiding the Brazilians this far.
Almost a baby in South American goalkeeping terms, the 21-year-old has nevertheless proved himself a shot-stopper of the highest quality in 2011, most notably against America in the last 16 when he performed a string of top-class saves to keep his net intact. There was little he could do against the pinpoint shooting of Cerro Porteno in a 3-3 draw last time round, but before that match he had conceded just once in five knock-out clashes, and another clean sheet on Wednesday would put one hand on the Libertadores trophy.
| DARIO RODRIGUEZ | Penarol |
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In five words: The veteran who marshals Penarol |
Neymar, Martinuccio, Danilo, Eduardo Mier; with so much high-quality young talent taking the field in this final, one could be forgiven for overlooking some of the more experienced combatants. Decisive matches such as this, however, are won as much with experience and professionalism as raw ability, which is why the old head of the Manya's captain marvel could make a huge difference to the outcome of the 2011 Copa.
Rodriguez has proved himself a fierce competitor and a formidable defender during a long career in Uruguay, Germany and with the national team, and is enjoying a marvellous Indian summer back in his native country after a long spell with Schalke. Without his goalscoring heroics against Velez in the first-leg, Penarol could already be out of the running, and as well as his skill at the back the home fans will be hoping for more Dario magic going forward at set-pieces.
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In five words: Midfield titan wants Copa success |
Part of the horde of Brazilians returning to their native country in the last few years, few have achieved as much instant success as the former Manchester City midfielder. His excellent performances in the Copa have erased a messy end to his European adventure, and helped to propel him back in the reckoning for Mano Menezes' national team.
The cool, older head in a side dominated by impetuous youngsters, Elano has led the Peixe through some tense Libertadores clashes with the poise and calm one expects from a veteran of nearly 50 international appearances. Special mention must go to his set-pieces, which Penarol must be wary of, as well as a goalscoring talent which has seen him bag three efforts across the tournament.
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 Read more on Almeyda |
Fear Factor: Will fight Boca until the end |
Only Boca's Martin Palermo is longer in the tooth than this well-travelled, cultured defensive midfielder, with the 37-year-old's birthday falling a month later than his old sparring partner. Almeyda, however, has no plans to hang up his boots just yet, and why should he, when a full 19 years after his professional debut he can still claim to be one of the best middle men in Argentina.
It is perhaps not the best long-term signal for River that a man who is old enough to be a father to half of the first team is still one of their best players, but despite losing a little pace and stamina over the years the ex-Lazio, Parma and Inter man is still a force to be reckoned with. Boca's less seasoned midfield duo of Nicolas Colazo and Gaston Rossi will have their work cut out to best this elder statesman of Argentine football.
| THE MAESTRO | Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors) |
 Read more on Riquelme |
Fear Factor: No player strikes fear into the Millo like Roman |
The presence of Riquelme on the field is an immeasurable boost for his Boca Juniors team-mates, who now more than ever see him as the creative centre for almost everything positive that comes from the team in blue and gold.
A veteran of countless Superclasicos, the No.10 will have extra incentive this year to excel after suffering disappointment in 2010. His Apertura derby was cut short after just six minutes with an ankle injury, and although he soldiered on until half-time he was a peripheral figure as River went on to win 1-0. Fully fit and Boca's top scorer in 2011, Roman will hope to provide another decisive performance when it counts the most.
| THE YOUNG PRETENDER | Erik Lamela (River Plate) |
 Read more on Lamela |
Fear Factor: 2010 warning means Boca must be aware |
This teenage talent is a long way from achieving what Riquelme has in Argentine football, but several fantastic performances have given ample notice that the mobile No.10 has what it takes to carve out a hugely impressive career in the world of football.
'Coco' was one of the stars of last year's meeting in the Monumental, and it was that derby which helped begin his ascent to a regular place in the Millo first team. He collected the No.10 shirt from Ariel Ortega, and also put himself in the notebook of almost every European scout. With River short on goals, a moment of magic from their playmaker could prove invaluable as they look to escape a relegation dogfight.
| THE OLD NEMESIS | Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors) |
 Read more on Palermo |
Fear Factor: Always has a chance of finding the net |
He may be old, painfully slow at times, and just six games from retirement, but in River Plate eyes there are few players who can hurt them like Martin Palermo can. The seventh highest scorer in Superclasico history with seven efforts, the blond poacher is playing the final derby of his career, and it would take a brave man to bet against him scoring in front of the Bombonera on Sunday.
After a 14-hour dry spell in front of goal in 2011, 'El Titan' has netted in each of his last three games, with strong indications that he has formed a good working partnership with the tireless Pablo Mouche up front. His goals may rarely be pretty but they all count, and stopping Palermo hitting the net is a necessity for the Millo if they want three points.
| THE LAST LINE | Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate) |
 Read more on Carrizo |
Fear Factor: A tough test for Roman and co. to beat JP |
Despite the fact that Mariano Pavone, Rogelio Funes Mori and the rest of River's misfiring strike-force have managed just 11 goals in 13 games, the Nunez giants still find themselves riding high in fourth place in the Clausura with a legitimate shot at the title. The reason for this is a watertight defence, in which the Lazio loanee has been a titan in the No.1 jersey.
Carrizo is, in the eyes of many, the best Argentine keeper around, and after losing his way in the last two years in Italy and Spain the stopper has an excellent chance of making the Copa America. Since returning to River in July 2010, 'JP' has been fantastic between the posts, and has the ability to frustrate Palermo, Mouche and Co. to keep the Millo in the hunt for their first championship since 2008.
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