Lionel Messi respects Juan Sebastian Veron

Lionel Messi (Barcelona) has great respect for his Club World Cup final foe. Speaking to media prior to the final about Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes) and their relationship during the 2007 Copa America, Messi said.

"I was new and inexperienced and he was a gentleman, very welcoming and helpful. I will never forget that."

2009 Copa Libertadores Final: Estudiantes Versus Cruzeiro

Champions League Weekly will be covering the tournament finale -- up first there is a link to a tremendous preview from journalist and BBC blogger Tim Vickery [2009 Copa Libertadores Final: Estudiantes Versus Cruzeiro] -- the site will be doing player previews and other items of news throughout the first and second legs of South America's top club tournament.

2009 Copa Libertadores Quarterfinal Match Schedule

Brazil with a strong showing heading into the quarterfinals.

1st Leg Matches:

Wed. May 27
Cruzeiro vs Sao Paulo
Caracas vs Gremio

Thu. May 28
Defensor vs Estudiantes
Palmeiras vs Nacional

2nd Leg Matches:

Wed. Jun 17
Nacional vs Palmeiras
Sao Paulo vs Cruzeiro
Gremio vs Caracas

Thu. Jun 18
Estudiantes vs Defensor

2009 Copa Libertadores - Group Previews

BigSoccer member argentine soccer fan is preparing previews for each group in the tournament. Group play begins this week. Follow the links to his previews...

• 2009 Copa libertadores - GROUP ONE
• 2009 Copa Libertadores - GROUP TWO
• 2009 Copa Libertadores - GROUP THREE
• 2009 Copa Libertadores - GROUP FOUR
• 2009 Copa Libertadores - GROUP FIVE
• 2009 Copa Libertadores - GROUP SIX

Copa Libertadores 2009 Preliminary Round Fixtures

The Preliminary Round of the 2009 Copa Libertadores consists of twelve teams who will each play a two-legged tie with another opponent. The victors over both legs will advance to the group stage and these fixtures will take place between January 27th and February 5th.

Independiente Medellin (Columbia) – Penarol (Uruguay)
Sporting Cristal (Peru) – Estudiantes (Argentina)
El Nacional (Ecuador) – Nacional (Paraguay)
Deportivo Anzoategui (Venezuela) – Deportivo Cuenca (Ecuador)
Palmeiras (Brazil) – Real Potosi (Bolivia)
Universidad de Chile (Chile) – Pachuca (Mexico)

Estudiantes to face Internacional in Copa Sudamericana final

Argentine Juan Sebastian Veron is back in the global spotlight after captaining his club to the 2008 Copa Sudamericana final. Estudiantes defeated Argentinos Juniors by an aggregate score of 2-1 after Jose Luis Calderon scored last evening in the All-Argentine semi-final.

Estudiantes will now face off against Brazilian side Internacional in the two-legged championship final.

Internacional Advances to Copa Sudamericana Final

Brazilian side Internacional booked a place in the Copa Nissan Sudamericana final after dispatching with Chivas de Guadalajara by an aggregate score of 6-0.

Internacional scored 2 goals in Mexico and yesterday added 4 more at home. Nilmar, a former member of Lyon in France, netted two of the four goals. Attacking midfielder, Andrés D'Alessandro, added the other two. The Argentine was a one-time Portsmouth squad member.

The Brazilian side's foe will be from Argentina as Argentinos Juniors and Estudiantes de La Plata head into today's second leg of their semi-final tied 1-1.

A closer look at Internacional follows:

1.Edinho: The 25-year-old defensive midfielder has been with the club since 2004.

2.Lauro: The goalkeeper has been solid in the round of 16. He could move to Europe in January after his recent success.

3.Álvaro: The 29-year-old centre back played several years in Spain most famously with Real Zaragoza.