By Louis Smith.
The Copa Libertadores will reach its conclusion this week. In this article, we will cover which sides are still in the hunt for qualification group by group, and which teams have already been eliminated from the competition.
Group A
Flamengo secured qualification with a 1-0 victory over Estudiantes de La Plata last time out. They currently lead the way by five points and have already sealed top spot in the group.
The battle for second place, however, is still ongoing, with Independiente Medellín and Estudiantes still fighting for the final qualification place. Estudiantes currently lead the race by one point. Medellín will travel to Argentina hoping to secure their place in the last 16, while Estudiantes will be hoping the home support can inspire them to victory.
For Peruvian side, Cusco, they have already been eliminated from the competition. They currently sit rock bottom of the group and cannot progress into either the knockout stages or the Copa Sudamericana.
Group B
In Group B, the final matchweek sees Nacional host Coquimbo Unido, while Universitario take on Deportes Tolima.
Coquimbo have already secured qualification for the next stage, sitting on ten points, three points clear at the top of the group.
The battle for second place is between Tolima and Universitario. This is because the head-to-head record favours Universitario, who picked up four points against Nacional compared to Nacional’s one, meaning the Uruguayan side can no longer finish above either Tolima or Universitario (on head-to-head record). Tolima simply have to avoid defeat to progress ot the next round.
Nacional can still qualify for the Copa Sudamericana with a victory over Coquimbo Unido.
Group C
In Group C, debutants Independiente Rivadavia have already secured qualification for the last 16, sitting top of the group with four wins and a draw from their opening five matches. It has been a fantastic start to life in South America’s top club competition for the Argentine side.
The battle for the remaining qualification places is still ongoing, with Bolívar, Fluminense and Deportivo La Guaira all still able to finish either second or third.
Bolívar have guaranteed themselves continental football beyond the group stage, whether that be the Copa Libertadores or the Copa Sudamericana, due to their superior head-to-head record against both Fluminense and Deportivo La Guaira.
In the final matchweek, Fluminense will host the Venezuelan side, while Bolívar face Independiente Rivadavia. With Rivadavia already through and Bolívar usually very strong in altitude conditions, it could favour the Bolivian side, who also hold both the better goal difference and head-to-head advantage.
If Independiente Rivadavia beat Bolívar, Flu will need to avoid defeat to progress, or else it will be the Venezuelan side who reach the last 16.
Group D
In Group D, the top three places are yet to be decided, with either Boca Juniors, Cruzeiro or Club Universidad Católica able to finish first, second or third.
Barcelona SC, who sit rock bottom of the group, have already been eliminated from both continental competitions.
Boca will face Católica, while Cruzeiro host Barcelona at home. The current leaders are the Chilean side Católica, who sit on 10 points, two points above Cruzeiro and three points ahead of Boca Juniors.
Católica will progress to the next round if they pick up a point against Boca Juniors or if Cruzeiro fail to beat Barcelona. Their job is the simplest of the three sides involved, knowing they simply have to avoid defeat in order to qualify.
For Cruzeiro, they know victory over Barcelona would ensure qualification. They could still qualify with a draw, but that would depend on the result between Boca Juniors and Católica.
Boca, meanwhile, know they realistically need to win. If Boca defeats Católica, they would move above the Chilean side and progress into the next stage of the Copa Libertadores.
Corinthians have already secured qualification for the next stage of the Copa Libertadores in impressive fashion, picking up three wins and two draws from their opening five matches while remaining unbeaten. With a goal difference of +6, they sit comfortably at the top of the group heading into the final matchweek, where they will face Atlético Platense and may choose to rotate and rest players.
The battle for qualification is between Platense and Independiente Santa Fe. Peñarol can no longer qualify for the knockout stages of the Libertadores, but they can still secure a place in the Copa Sudamericana.
Platense know that a victory against Corinthians would guarantee progression to the next stage.
It is worth noting that goal difference could play a huge role. Both Platense and Santa Fe recorded 2-1 home victories against one another, meaning the head-to-head record is level. Platense currently sit on a goal difference of -1, while Santa Fe are on -2.
If Platense and Corinthians draw, Santa Fe would need to beat Peñarol by at least two goals in order to progress into the knockout stages of the competition.
Group F
At the start of the group, many would have expected Palmeiras to comfortably progress to the knockout stages heading into the final matchweek. However, what many would not have expected is for Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño to lead the way by two points following their impressive 1-0 victory in Brazil during midweek.
That result means Cerro Porteño head into the final game at home to Sporting Cristal already knowing their fate. They also know that just a point would be enough to secure top spot in the group and qualification into the next stage.
In the battle for second place, Palmeiras have already guaranteed themselves at least a place in the Copa Sudamericana, but their expectations will firmly be on progressing into the knockout stages of the Copa Libertadores.
They host Junior, who have already been eliminated from the Libertadores but could still qualify for the Sudamericana.
Palmeiras simply need to avoid defeat to progress.
Sporting Cristal, meanwhile, will be hoping to defeat Cerro Porteño while also needing Palmeiras to lose against Junior if they are to progress into the next stage of the competition.
Group G
LDU Quito’s superior head-to-head record over Lanús saw them secure qualification for the next stage of the Copa Libertadores last time out, following a 2-0 victory over the Argentinians on home soil.
Also progressing into the next stage are debutants Mirassol, who have won four and lost one of their five matches so far, continuing their impressive rise in the competition. They secured qualification with a 2-1 victory away at altitude against Bolivian side Always Ready.
Heading into the final matchweek, Lanús will be hoping to secure Copa Sudamericana football, a competition they won last season. Meanwhile, Always Ready will be kean to cause an upset.
A victory for the Bolivian side, combined with a Lanús defeat, would see Always Ready progress into the Sudamericana.
Group H
The only group where the majority of matters have already been settled is Group H. Rosario Central and Independiente del Valle have already secured qualification for the next stage of the Copa Libertadores, while Universidad Central of Venezuela have confirmed their place in the Copa Sudamericana after finishing third.
Bottom of the table are Club Libertad, who are yet to pick up a point after losing all five of their matches so far.
Heading into the final matchweek, Independiente del Valle and Rosario Central will battle it out to decide who finishes top of the group. The first meeting in Argentina finished 0-0, meaning the equation is fairly simple heading into the return fixture in Ecuador. Rosario Central only need a draw to secure top spot, while Independiente del Valle must win on home soil if they are to leapfrog the Argentine side.
Meanwhile, Libertad against Universidad Central is effectively a dead rubber that will be played in Asunción.