Palmeiras have tough hurdle as they defend Copa Libertadores title

SOCCER 10 POOL OF THE DAY

Wednesday 3 August

S10 V3

Palmeiras continue their bid to win South America’s top club prize for a third successive year but they have to get past fellow Brazilian giants Atletico Mineiro in the Copa Libertadores quarter-final, starting with the first leg away tonight. More details at www.soccer6.co.za

M1 Dinamo Kiev vs Sturm Graz: Dinamo won away at Fenerbahce of Turkey last week to advance to the third preliminary round of the Champions League where the Austrian runners-up enter the tournament.

M2 Qarabag vs Ferencvaros: Qarabag have eliminated both Lech Poznan of Poland and Swiss club Zurich in this season’s Champions League preliminary rounds while Ferencvaros have advanced at the expense of Tobol from Kazakhstan and Slovan Bratislava, who were the Slovak champions.

M3 DAC 1904 Dunajska Streda vs Steaua Bucharest: DAC 1904 have won four matches in the UEFA Europa Conference League over the last month. Their Romanian opponents were European Cup winners in 1986.

M4 Sao Paulo vs Ceara: Two Brazilian sides meet in the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals. Their last six games have all ended in draws – five of them with a 1-1 scoreline.

M5 Charlotte FC vs D. C. United: Charlotte’s weekend game against Columbus Crew was called off because of bad weather. This will be Wayne Rooney’s second match in charge since taking over at DC United.

M6 Columbus Crew vs CF Montreal: Columbus Crew are on a nine-match unbeaten run. Montreal have seven points from their last three MLS outings to sit third in the Eastern Conference.

M7 Atletico Mineiro vs Palmeiras: Brazil’s champions meet the Copa Libertadores holders in the quarter-final of the competition. Their last four head-to-head clashes have all ended in draws.

M8 Velez Sarsfield vs Talleres de Cordoba: An all-Argentine clash in the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals. Velez Sarsfield have drawn their past four matches while Talleres have won one in their last four fixtures.

M9 Portland Timbers vs Nashville SC: Timbers were 3-1 down at Minnesota on Saturday but came back for a 4-4 draw. Nashville’s last two games have both been 1-1 draws.

M10 San Jose Earthquakes vs Inter Miami: San Jose have gone through their last four MLS games without success. Miami have five losses and two draws from their previous seven away games.

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