Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana, it’s back to business with the final day of the group stage: news and predictions.
Night of cups in South America. The Libertadores and Sudamericana are back, and both are set to provide plenty of excitement on the final day of the group stage.
The spotlight is on the most important event, where several big names are not yet certain of qualification. One of them is River Plate, only second in the very balanced Group D: anything can happen. The situation, ninety minutes from the end of the games, is incandescent. At the top of the standings, on nine points, are the Brazilians of Fluminense, who only need a draw to advance to the next stage. The Tricolor, it is true, have lost their last two matches, but at home they have been a steamroller so far, scoring six goals in their two home games. It could even qualify even with a defeat thanks to the better goal difference (it has a clear advantage against the others at the moment). Fluminense will tonight face Sporting Cristal’s Peruvians, who are level on seven points with River Plate.
The historic Buenos Aires club, which got back on track in the last round by beating Fluminense 2-0, will need all the support of the Mas Monumental to beat The Strongest Bolivians, last on six points but still in the running for qualification. For the Argentinians and Brazilians, two certainly tough matches. But being able to play in front of their home crowd is a major advantage: both should avoid defeat.
Qualification in one step for Atletico Mineiro
In Group G is Athletico Paranaense, the reigning South American runners-up, who are already four points ahead of third-placed Libertad, who are a foot and a half out of the Libertadores.
Battle of Atletico Mineiro
The greater motivation of Alianza Lima, last in the standings but still in the running for ‘relegation’ to the Copa Sudamericana, could make the difference, in a match with at least one goal on each side. In the other match, Atletico Mineiro need only not lose by three goals or more against Libertad to secure a pass to the knockout phase. Finally, it is all, or almost all, settled in Group H, where Olimpia Asuncion and Atletico Nacional have already qualified for the next round. The two eliminated teams, Melgar and Patronato, are competing for the third place that will allow them to continue their continental adventure in the less prestigious competition. Olimpia should be in no mood for gifts, while the Argentinians of Patronato have a better chance of avoiding defeat against Atletico Nacional, who have won only once in their last five matches.
Four matches valid for the final day of the Copa Sudamericana are also scheduled for the night. On the pitch is Palestino, called upon to secure second place in Group H. The Chileans should get at least a point against the already-qualified Fortaleza, while San Lorenzo’s backs are against the wall: a comfortable victory against Estudiantes Merida, the group’s tail-end and long since out of the game, is on the cards. Finally, the verdict is already out in Group D, where the two qualifiers are Sao Paulo and Tigre, led by Retegui.
Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana: the possible winners
- Libertad or draw (in Libertad-Atletico Mineiro, Libertadores 0:00)
- River Plate (in River Plate-The Strongest, Libertadores 2:00)
- Olimpia Asuncion (in Olimpia Asuncion-Melgar, Libertadores 2:00)
- Palestine or draw (in Palestine-Fortaleza, Sudamericana 0:00)
- San Lorenzo (in San Lorenzo-Estudiantes Merida, Sudamericana 0:00)
- Tolima (in Tolima-Puerto Cabello, Sudamericana 2:30)
