Racing Club Welcome Superstar Memphis Depay To Argentina
Racing Club de Avellaneda host Brazilian giants Corinthians and Memphis Depay on Thursday night, in perhaps the most important game the club have played in continental football so far this century.
Not since 1997 have Racing played an international semi final, and after a fantastic away performance in the first leg they will believe that a place in the final is on the cards. The first match finished in a 2-2 draw so a home win will be enough to see Racing through to the Copa Sudamericana final in November.
Racing went to São Paulo and took the lead within minutes, scoring brilliant goals with two fabulous finishes in Brazil. They came away from Corinthians stadium with a really positive result, one that might have been even better than they expected and will have their fans rocking at home on Thursday night.
The famous 'Cilindro' stadium just south of the capital of Buenos Aires is home to a club that have been named champions of the World before, we must not forget.
Racing club beat Celtic's incredible 'Lisbon Lions' team that won the 1967 European Cup to claim such a crown and they are all too aware of their international tournament pedigree. Even if it has been a while, they are a club who believe they must win trophies like this years Copa Sudamericana.
However, a serious force is coming to town. Corinthians, who recently competed in the semi finals of the Copa do Brasil against Flamengo are one of the biggest and well supported clubs in South America. They have tonnes of history, an excellent squad and in Memphis Depay they have one of the poster boys of South American football at the moment.
In the first leg the Dutchman wasn't quite at his brilliant best, but he showed signs of magic and has been in great form as of late. Might he be the protagonist in a night which, either way, will be one of the most incredible atmospheres seen in world football this year?
Depay, arriving to the humble neighbourhood of Avellaneda, is what tournaments like these are all about. His wage bill and star status mean nothing to the locals, and Corinthians will be met with the upmost hostility and noise.
The Brazilians also showed their quality in the first leg though, fine strikes of their own mean they are still well in this tie, which hopefully will prove to be just as 'end-to-end' as the first leg, which was a wonderful watch for the neutral and a nail-biter for fans of both teams.
A close encounter on the pitch and a sparkling sphere of noise surrounding it should make this a night to remember. It's Racing club against Corinthians in the Copa Sudamericana semi finals and a place at the final in Paraguay in a few weeks is at stake.
