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Gremio and Boca attempt to avoid early exits

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 23 (Reuters) - Former champions Gremio and Boca Juniors need to win their last matches in group stage of the Libertadores Cup this week to avoid early exits.
Both teams, who have already seen their arch-rivals fall at the first hurdle, enter the final week of qualifying outside the top two places in their respective groups.
Internacional, Gremio's neighbours in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, failed to qualify from Group Four last week.
The defending champions were edged out by Nacional on goal difference despite beating the Uruguayans 1-0 on Thursday.
Boca's eternal rivals River Plate were astonishingly eliminated by Venezuela's Caracas FC in Group Six.
Gremio, who won the second of their two titles in 1995 under current Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, must beat Paraguay's Cerro Porteno at home on Tuesday to go through from Group Three.
Cerro, Deportes Tolima and Gremio each have seven points from five games, but Gremio trail on goal difference.
TWO YEARS
Colombian champions Cucuta are one point behind and visit compatriots Tolima the same evening.
Gremio coach Mano Menezes, who steered the team out of the second division in 2005 and to third place in the Brazilian championship last year, completed two years in the job on Saturday -- an eternity in the volatile world of Brazilian coaching.
His biggest problem has been in attack, with his side managing a paltry three goals in five outings.
Boca have also had trouble scoring in Group Seven and must beat eliminated Bolivar by two goals at home on Thursday to be certain of qualifying.
Boca have scored five goals in five games, all at home, have seven points and a goal difference of minus one.
They are two points behind Toluca of Mexico and Cienciano of Peru, who meet the same evening when the Peruvian visitors, who have the better goal difference, need a draw.
Toluca's goal difference of plus one means they could also qualify with a draw if Boca fail to win or beat Bolivar by only one goal.
The other two places will be decided on Wednesday when Group Two is completed.
Brazilian champions Sao Paulo, who have 10 points and lead on goal difference from Audax Italiano, need a draw at home to the Chilean outsiders to qualify.
Mexico's Necaxa, one point behind in third place, need a win at home against hapless Peruvian champions Alianza Lima, who have lost all five games so far.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/break...580383,00.html