Copa Libertadores Final 1st Leg

Estudiantes 0-0 Cruzeiro

Lots of tickertape and fireworks in La Plata, it was suddenly 1978 all over again for the first leg of the final in the 50th edition of the Copa Libertadores. It will be Cruzeiro who go back to Belo Horizonte next week as favourites after a goalless draw last night.

Seba Veron stung Fabio's hands with a super free kick in the first half and the keeper came to the rescue shortly after with another fine save. And Veron again forced Fabio into acrobatics right on half time. Leonardo Silva came close for Cruzeiro with 17 minutes to go but could Kléber's shocking miss with 11 minutes to go come back and bite the Brazilians on the arse next week. Juan Salgueiro had the last chance for the home side but he put his shot across the face of the goal.

Cruzeiro though will be thankful to goalkeeper Fabio for keeping them in the game. Just to point out the rules are different in the final. Away goals do not count and if the teams are level at the end of 90 minutes next week then there will, unlike the previous rounds, be extra time before any penalty competition.

The next leg takes place on Wednesday night in Belo Horizonte.

Rennes' best route to Europe

No French league action this weekend, though they pick it up with a round of fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday, as it's the Cup final on Saturday. Like the league cup, this is also a Ligue 1 v Ligue 2 clash as Guy Lacombe takes his Rennes side to the capital to play their Breton rivals Guingamp. Naturally, Rennes will go in as favourites, but Guingamp dumped European challengers Toulouse out in the semi-finals and, with it being a derby, you're duty bound to use such clichés like 'form goes out of the window'. Moreover, Lacombe was in charge at Guingamp for many years where he brought through such luminaries as Florent Malouda and every Norwegian referee's favourite, Didier Drogba.

Rennes are without international striker Jimmy Briand through injury and influential midfielder Kader Mangane through suspension, picked up when just about hacking off the leg of Valenciennes midfielder Jonathan Lacourt. Moussa Sow will lead the line in Briand's absence and he's been pretty effective in that role recently. Guingamp are not without their stars, most notably two-time French Cup runner-up Wilson Oruma. He played in and lost twice during his spell with Marseilles. "It's 70-30 in their favour" he said during the build-up, "but we'll give it everything as 30% isn't bad". That's the spirit.