Libertadores' 'fix' offers up big second-round action

	Corinthians' sensational Carlos Tévez will get another chance to knock his former nemesis, River Plate, out of a major tournament. AP
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Some fix this is. Traditionally, the Copa Libertadores has had an unusual tendency to pair potential title contenders in the early rounds, which many fans view as one of the inherent problems of South America's premier tournament.

This year, CONMEBOL took some preventive measures in order to prevent that from happening. The federation gave the higher-ranked clubs priority so that the round of 16 would see the No. 1 team play No. 16, No. 2 play No. 15 and so on.

But this seems to have backfired. Intriguing matchups in the early rounds are once again the order of the day, with the clash between South American powers River Plate and Corinthians grabbing center stage.

In an encore of 2005, we'll be treated to another Paulista derby between Palmeiras and São Paulo, as well as an all-Argentine affair between Newell's Old Boys and Vélez Sarsfield. The sad thing is that half of these top clubs will be out early.

Here's a breakdown of all eight matchups, and my picks for the clubs to advance to the quarterfinals.

Vélez Sarsfield (1) vs. Newell's Old Boys (16)

Copa ties between Argentine clubs are always something special, and this matchup will be no different -- even though the clubs secured qualification in contrasting styles. While the Fortín come into the series as the highest-ranked club, going undefeated through the group stage with five victories from six matches, the Leprosos experienced several ups and downs before sneaking into the last 16 as the lowest-ranked club. But both know this will have no significance on the outcome come match day, and the winner is likely to be a strong candidate to reach the later stages of the competition. Expect a passionate series that is likely to be won by the side that wants it most.

The pick: Vélez.

Internacional (2) vs. Nacional (15)

Internacional won its group in emphatic style and set up a meeting with three-time former champion Nacional, a club it already met in the group stage. But although the Colorado proved it is superior to its counterpart -- with a 3-0 victory and a scoreless draw in their two meetings -- it must be aware that things can change quickly with the stakes this high. The Uruguayans have improved as a unit as the competition has progressed, and they've achieved some motivating results. They are tactically aware of what Internacional has to offer, and must get a good first-leg result in Montevideo to maintain their hopes of advancing to the final eight.

The pick: Internacional.

Corinthians (3) vs. River Plate (14)

This matchup has attracted huge interest around the continent, as it brings together two title candidates in a series more fitting for the final. Daniel Passarella's River Plate didn't impress in the group stage and only clinched a spot in the second round in its final group match, a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Libertad at the Monumental stadium. A disappointing 14th-position ranking meant Los Millonarios had to do battle with one of the top-ranked clubs, Corinthians, a team they would have preferred to avoid. In last year's Copa Sudamericana, the Timão eliminated River in the knockout round with an injury-time strike from Marinho. Since then, River has strengthened its squad.

Once again, Corinthians' star (and former Boca Juniors starlet) Carlos Tévez will face his eternal enemy and will be hoping to continue the outstanding form that has helped him score three times in the competition. The Brazilian champions are undefeated on their home turf and have demonstrated that they're more than capable of picking up wins on the road, especially after their vital 3-2 victory at Universidad Católica. This is the most exciting tie of the final 16, and the victor is likely to stake a claim for the title.

The pick: Corinthians.