Copa Libertadores Team Of The Week

Formation: 3-4-3

Goalkeeper

Pato Abbondanzieri (Internacional) – The 37-year-old goalkeeper put in just the kind of performance that convinced Internacional’s head coach Jorge Fossati to bring the veteran to Brazil. Abbondanzieri made some key saves in his club’s trip to Ecuador to face Deportivo Quito. Fossati knows just what it takes to win the Copa Libertadores after his success with LDU Quito. With Abbondanzieri between the sticks, Fossati has a player on the pitch who also knows exactly what is needed to succeed in the continental competition.

Defenders

Junior Cesar (Sao Paulo) - The full-back raided the left flank time and time again, providing a useful option on the overlap for both Marcelinho and Fernandinho, while he was also able to deliver some dangerous crosses into the box. Defensively he was pitted against the lively Fabio Ramos and Marcos Melgarejo, and he was generally able to nullify the threat coming from the right hand side.

Miranda (Sao Paulo) – While Junior Cesar was the springboard for many of Sao Paulo’s attacks, the full-back was always safe in the knowledge that behind him he was covered by Miranda. The towering centre-back has now made over 100 appearances for Sao Paulo and it's a wonder that he is yet to move on. Not only has he already collect three championship medals in Brazil but at the tender age of 25 he has been named in the last three Brazilian Serie A Teams of the Year. Dunga continues to flirt with the idea of bringing Miranda to South Africa.

Rodrigo Alvim (Flamengo) – Another full-back who impressed during a victory for a Brazilian side this week was Rodrigo Alvim of Flamengo. Despite only playing the last 40 minutes of his team’s win the defender did the job that was asked of him after Flamengo found themselves reduced to ten men after Toro saw red. Rodrigo Alvim capped off his cameo by netting his team’s third goal in second half stoppage time.

Midfielders

James Rodriguez (Banfield) - The Colombian is already staking a claim for the player of the tournament accolade. Banfield secured a 2-2 draw against Uruguayan side Nacional, with both goals coming from the in-form Rodriguez. He stole in between the central defenders to level the scores at 1-1 with a fine flying header before calmly dispatching a penalty amid the deafening whistles of the crowd.

Edgar Gonzalez (Alianza Lima) - Alianza have been the surprise of the tournament so far and stand with one foot in the next round after winning their three opening games. Gonzalez was key to their victory this week as he dictated the tempo of the game and directed the attacks against the defensive-minded Juan Aurich from the middle of the pitch.

Gustavo Varela (Nacional) – The 31-year-old midfielder is enjoying his return to Uruguay after spending seven years in and out of the Schalke 04 team in Germany. While his involvement with the Uruguay team maybe a fading dream Varela played his part in Nacional’s 2008–09 Primera Division championship. Varela’s early strike against Banfield helped his side gain another useful point as Nacional remain unbeaten after three games in the group stage.

Pablo Perez (Emelec) – Things have not been easy for Pablo Perez since he scored a hat-trick early on in his career for Newell’s Old Boys against Estudiantes. After finding himself sidelined in Rosario the midfielder made the move to Ecuador. Now he has been taken under the wing of his countryman Jorge Sampaoli at Emelec and he managed to give his fans something to cheer with his strike despite opponents Cerro running out 2-1 winners.

Attackers

Washington (Sao Paulo) - After his exploits against Monterrey, the former Fluminense striker makes it into our team of the week again after grabbing a brace to put Nacional to the sword. The first was expertly created by Dagoberto, but Washington showed audacity and calmness to round Caffa before sealing the result with a close range finish in the dying minutes.

Vagner Love (Flamengo) – With Adriano missing from the Flamengo squad for their trip to Venezuela it was another of their star names which stepped up to do the damage against Cacacas FC. Love joined the current Brazilian champions after an unhappy return to Palmeiras but a well taken brace against Cacacas as well as some good form in the Rio State Championship is endearing him to the Flamengo faithful.

Kleber (Cruzeiro) – Completing the all Brazilian frontline for this week’s team is Cruzeiro’s goal getter Kleber. The 26-year-old has scored goals wherever he has been throughout career including a stint in the Ukraine with Dynamo Kiev. The striker came home last year when Guilherme moved in the opposite direction but if Kleber’s double against Deportivo Italia away is anything to go by then Cruzeiro have not done too bad out of the deal. The brace in Venezuela brought Kleber’s 2010 Copa Libertadores tally to five to make him joint top scorer with Luis Tejada of Juan Aurich.

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