Who'll join Libertad, Junior Barranquilla, Gremio, Cruzeiro, Estudiantes and Peñarol in the knockouts?
After five Libertadores games, there are still ten places available for the round of sixteen. Colombian Junior Barranquilla was beaten for the first time last week in Brazil, but their flawless performance granted them one ticket for the next stage nevertheless.
Godoy Cruz and LDU Quito lock horns, knowing that only the winner will make it to the knockouts. The Argentinean squad has done en excellent job in its debut in the Libertadores, but it'd all be fruitless without a positive result in Ecuador.
Sudamericana champion Independiente must obtain a positive result in Uruguay against Peñarol to remain competitive in one of the toughest Libertadores groups.
Deportivo Tachira and Guarani look forward to celebrate their first victory in the competition even though they won't be able to qualify to the next round no matter what happens in their respective games.
Follow all Copa Libertadores action and much more in LiveSoccerTV.com
Independiente must defeat Peñarol by at least eight goals and hope for Godoy Cruz and LDU Quito to share points without scoring a single goal to advance to the next round. It might seem almost impossible, but the Argentinean squad has demonstrated the kind of vicious energy they can unlease if given enough room to create.
Rojos' coach Antonio Mohammed visits Uruguay, as he wants to give his best players an opportunity to rest before an important derby in the Clausura against Racing Club.
Striker Jairo Castillo returns to the starting eleven, and will be joining Facundo Parra in the attack, building the offense along with Leandro Gracian.
Peñarol's boss Diego Aguirre is determined to secure the full scoring and finish the group stage standing at the top. "It's very important that we finish the group in the first position. Firstly, to define the next games in Montevideo. You should never speculate, there are no easy rivals and you never know who you'll be facing".
Independiente dreams with qualification for the next round, do they have what it takes to make their dreams come true?
Godoy Cruz, one of the main revelations of this Libertadores, must return home victorious from Quito to advance to the round of sixteen in their first Libertadores. A victory is mandatory for the Argentinean squad to claim the second position, while a draw will give LDU Quito the ticket for the next round.
Tombas' coach is confident he can defeat Liga as they did two months ago in Mendoza, when Nicolas and Carlos Sanchez gave Godoy Cruz the full scoring. Team's top striker Ruben Ramirez is ruled out due to injuries, greatly undermining team's attack.
LDU Quito suffered more than expected last week to rescue an important point in Avellaneda against Independiente. Edgardo Bauza decided to give his top players an opportunity to rest prior to this clash, and his alternate formation failed to defeat Deportivo Quito for the Ecuadorian league.
Tomba's defenders should watch out for Luis Bolaños and Hernán Barcos, for their individual capabilities can lean the game on Liga's side from the first minute on.
The winner advances to the round of sixteen, who will it be?
Both Colo Colo and Depotivo Tachira want to leave behind the bitterness of their last defeat by claiming the full scoring this Wednesday on Chilean ground.
Sent off during the last game against Santos, Colo Colo's coach Americo Gallego misses Andrés Scotti and Cristóbal Jorquera, but he recovers team's top striker Esteban Paredes and playmaker Rodrigo Millar, both recently recovered from their respective injuries.
A sound victory 4-1 against Deportes La Serena or the Chilean league has boosted the spirit of the hosts. "It'd be unwise to take Tachira for granted. We have not won the game until we've played it" said Gallego earlier this week.
Tachira's coach Jorge Luis Pinto will try to bag the full scoring thanks to Julio Gutiérrez's and Sergio Herrer
Both Colo Colo and Depotivo Tachira want to leave behind the bitterness of their last defeat by claiming the full scoring this Wednesday on Chilean ground.
Sent off during the last game against Santos, Colo Colo's coach Americo Gallego misses Andrés Scotti and Cristóbal Jorquera, but he recovers team's top striker Esteban Paredes and playmaker Rodrigo Millar, both recently recovered from their respective injuries.
A sound victory 4-1 against Deportes La Serena or the Chilean league has boosted the spirit of the hosts. "It'd be unwise to take Tachira for granted. We have not won the game until we've played it" said Gallego earlier this week.
Tachira's coach Jorge Luis Pinto will try to bag the full scoring thanks to Julio Gutiérrez's and Sergio Herrera's unchallenged speed.
"We can taste qualification" said Gallego, confident the three points will remain in Chile. Will they stop Deportivo Tachira from shattering their American dreams?
There's nothing neither Guarani nor Deportes Tolima can do to defy Estudiantes' and Cruzeiro's qualification, but the hosts will nevertheless look forward to say goodbye to the Copa Libertadores celebrating their first victory in the competition.
The Colombian squad failed to defeat Real Cartagena and gave Once Caldas a perfect opportunity to claim the top for themselves. The Aurinegro squad was overwhelmed by Nacional in the Paraguayan league last week, falling to the lower half of the positions table.
Tolima's coach decided to save his best players for a competition he's already lost. Team's captain Gerardo Vallejo, winger Félix Noguera and many others will not travel to Paraguay.
A chance for redemption for Guarani in America's most challenging fight, who'll claim the three points?
Cruzeiro wants to finish the group stage in the top position facing one of the strongest Argentinean squads in La Plata. Pincha's striker Gaston Fenandez returns to the starting eleven, having recovered just on time from a leg injury that's kept him away from the fields since Clausura's fourth round, at the derby against Gimnasia.
Estudiantes' coach Eduardo Berizzo introduces a few modifications in his scheme, considering the top of the Argentinean League stands only two points above their heads. "This is a great opportunity against a rival that we've faced many times, we know each other well" declared Fernandez.
Cruizeiro's massive firepower (seventeen goals scored in five Libertadores games, almost twice as much as Estudiantes), combined with their defensive security (only Deportes Tolima defeated Fabio's goal so far) wants to demonstrate once again they're among the top favorites to lift this year's title.
The memories of Estudiantes' last visit to Belo Horizonte are still vivid in the memories of the Raposas. The top belongs to the Brazilians unless a miracle takes place at the Mineirao, for Cruzerio's fifteen-goal advantage is just overwhelming.
Already eliminated from the Copa Libertadores, Union Española takes on fellow countrymen Universidad Catolica, in need of a victory to claim their ticket for the knockouts. They're still eligible for qualification if the visitors bag the three points, but they'll depend on Caracas defeating Velez Sarsfield to maintain the second position in the group.
This Chilean clash features two teams with different realities. Catolica's coach Juan Antonio Pizzi misses team's top striker Roberto Gutierrez and midfielder Milovan Mirosevic, as they both struggle to recover from their respective injuries.
The hosts need a victory to gain momentum before facing Colo Colo in the Chilean derby next weekend. Former Boca Juniors' playmaker Marcelo Cañete will be responsible for feeding Lucas Pratto and Pablo Calandria, two highly efficient strikers.
Española's boss is aware Universidad Catolica will be a tough nut to crack at San Carlos de Apoquindo. To make things increasingly difficult, Jose Luis Sierra will have to do without Raúl Estévez, Braulio Leal, Sebastián Jaime, Rafael Olarra and Luis Pedro Figueroa, all of them struggling with injuries.
An exciting Chilean clash in the last round of the Group Stage, who'll claim the three points?
Cerro Porteño could secure its place in the round of sixteen upon a positive result as they lock horns with Santos FC on Thursday's night. Libertadores' top striker Roberto Nanni and young playmaker Juan Manuel Iturbe will be responsible for breaking through the packed Brazilian's defense.
Santos celebrated a Pyrrhic victory against Colo Colo last week, as Neymar, Elano and Ze Roberto received a red card and won't be able to perform. Santos' new coach Muricy Ramalho recovers winger Arouca, Elano's natural replacement, and is likely to give Maikon Leite y Keirrison a chance to show their worth in the starting eleven.
"We've already played together before, and thank God, it all worked out pretty well. We hope we can perform at our best in such a decisive challenge" said Kerrison only days before this clash.
Cerro's coach Leonardo Astrada does not want to take his rival for granted. "We haven't yet won anything. A victory over Santos is vital, but let's not forget the importance of next week's matches, when we visit Colo Colo and Santos hosts Deportivo Tachira" said the Argentinean coach.
A major clash in one of the toughest groups in the competition, who'll claim the full scoring?
The Argentinean Fortin must secure the three points in Venezuela this Thursday to claim their place among America's best sixteen. The hosts are one of the big revelations of this tournament, occupying the top position with nine points after five Libertadores games.
Velez Sarsfield celebrated a sound victory in Liniers against Caracas in the first match of the tournament. Caracas' coach Ceferino Bencomo should stop his rival's midfielders from controlling the flow of the ball, and so it's expected Bencomo will opt for a defensive 4-2-3-1 formation, specially considering Nelson Barahona is ruled out due to injuries.
Uruguayan striker Santiago Silva -who missed the first clash between the two teams- will be ready to lead the attack,dangerously associating with Maxi Moralez. Sent off during the last game, Augusto Fernandez is set to miss the game.
Fortin's coach Ricardo Gareca could make some last minute modifications in his scheme, considering David Ramírez and Franco Razzotti have recovered from their injuries and will be fully fit to perform.
Junior Barranquilla wants to confirm its leadership of the second group as they receive the Peruvian Lions in the last game of this stage. Gremio brought Junior Barranquilla back to earth last week by breaking their unbeaten record, but the Colombian squad remains at the top with 12 points.
Junior Barranquilla is two-faced, as their performance in their domestic league has been far from satisfying, occupying the 16th position with eleven points after 10 games. Junior's coach Oscar Quintabani will have to do without John Viáfara and Carlos Macías, both of them struggling with injuries.
Leon's coach Franco Navarro faces this clash as an opportunity to better understand the inner workings of his team. Colombian defender Roller Cambindo will most likely be part of the starting eleven, at Jair Céspedes' expense.
Junior Barranquilla has won both Libertadores games at home by the exact same result, 2-1. The same happened as the Colombian squad visited Peru in the debut match.
Unlike many other groups, there is no place for surprise in group 2. Junior Barranquilla and Gremio have already claimed their ticket for the knockouts. The Brazilian squad travels to Bolivia, eager to claim the three points and secure the top position of the group, confident Leon Huanuco can keep Junior from obtaining the full scoring.
Gremio's coach Renato Portaluppi modifies his scheme, in search of alternatives for the dual fight waiting ahead. Douglas, Gilson and Carlos Alberto stayed in Brazil, while midfielder Maylson is likely to return to the starting squad.
Oriente Petrolero's coach is also likely to modify his scheme, as Mauricio Saucedo, Jhasmany Campos and Alcides Peña have all been under intense physical discomfort for the past few days.
"A victory against Gremio is important, but I'll not risk any of them needlessly" declared Ariel Cuffaro Russo. Two consecutive defeats in the Bolivian league have jeopardized Oriente's leadership of the league.
Diego Terrazas, Ronal Rea and Walter Veizaga are likely to replace the players in risk of injury for this Libertadores clash. Team's goalkeeper Hugo Suarez is expected to return to the fields after a month sidelined due to injuries.
Godoy Cruz and LDU Quito lock horns, knowing that only the winner will make it to the knockouts. The Argentinean squad has done en excellent job in its debut in the Libertadores, but it'd all be fruitless without a positive result in Ecuador.
Sudamericana champion Independiente must obtain a positive result in Uruguay against Peñarol to remain competitive in one of the toughest Libertadores groups.
Deportivo Tachira and Guarani look forward to celebrate their first victory in the competition even though they won't be able to qualify to the next round no matter what happens in their respective games.
Follow all Copa Libertadores action and much more in LiveSoccerTV.com
Independiente must defeat Peñarol by at least eight goals and hope for Godoy Cruz and LDU Quito to share points without scoring a single goal to advance to the next round. It might seem almost impossible, but the Argentinean squad has demonstrated the kind of vicious energy they can unlease if given enough room to create.
Rojos' coach Antonio Mohammed visits Uruguay, as he wants to give his best players an opportunity to rest before an important derby in the Clausura against Racing Club.
Striker Jairo Castillo returns to the starting eleven, and will be joining Facundo Parra in the attack, building the offense along with Leandro Gracian.
Peñarol's boss Diego Aguirre is determined to secure the full scoring and finish the group stage standing at the top. "It's very important that we finish the group in the first position. Firstly, to define the next games in Montevideo. You should never speculate, there are no easy rivals and you never know who you'll be facing".
Independiente dreams with qualification for the next round, do they have what it takes to make their dreams come true?
Godoy Cruz, one of the main revelations of this Libertadores, must return home victorious from Quito to advance to the round of sixteen in their first Libertadores. A victory is mandatory for the Argentinean squad to claim the second position, while a draw will give LDU Quito the ticket for the next round.
Tombas' coach is confident he can defeat Liga as they did two months ago in Mendoza, when Nicolas and Carlos Sanchez gave Godoy Cruz the full scoring. Team's top striker Ruben Ramirez is ruled out due to injuries, greatly undermining team's attack.
LDU Quito suffered more than expected last week to rescue an important point in Avellaneda against Independiente. Edgardo Bauza decided to give his top players an opportunity to rest prior to this clash, and his alternate formation failed to defeat Deportivo Quito for the Ecuadorian league.
Tomba's defenders should watch out for Luis Bolaños and Hernán Barcos, for their individual capabilities can lean the game on Liga's side from the first minute on.
The winner advances to the round of sixteen, who will it be?
Both Colo Colo and Depotivo Tachira want to leave behind the bitterness of their last defeat by claiming the full scoring this Wednesday on Chilean ground.
Sent off during the last game against Santos, Colo Colo's coach Americo Gallego misses Andrés Scotti and Cristóbal Jorquera, but he recovers team's top striker Esteban Paredes and playmaker Rodrigo Millar, both recently recovered from their respective injuries.
A sound victory 4-1 against Deportes La Serena or the Chilean league has boosted the spirit of the hosts. "It'd be unwise to take Tachira for granted. We have not won the game until we've played it" said Gallego earlier this week.
Tachira's coach Jorge Luis Pinto will try to bag the full scoring thanks to Julio Gutiérrez's and Sergio Herrer
Both Colo Colo and Depotivo Tachira want to leave behind the bitterness of their last defeat by claiming the full scoring this Wednesday on Chilean ground.
Sent off during the last game against Santos, Colo Colo's coach Americo Gallego misses Andrés Scotti and Cristóbal Jorquera, but he recovers team's top striker Esteban Paredes and playmaker Rodrigo Millar, both recently recovered from their respective injuries.
A sound victory 4-1 against Deportes La Serena or the Chilean league has boosted the spirit of the hosts. "It'd be unwise to take Tachira for granted. We have not won the game until we've played it" said Gallego earlier this week.
Tachira's coach Jorge Luis Pinto will try to bag the full scoring thanks to Julio Gutiérrez's and Sergio Herrera's unchallenged speed.
"We can taste qualification" said Gallego, confident the three points will remain in Chile. Will they stop Deportivo Tachira from shattering their American dreams?
There's nothing neither Guarani nor Deportes Tolima can do to defy Estudiantes' and Cruzeiro's qualification, but the hosts will nevertheless look forward to say goodbye to the Copa Libertadores celebrating their first victory in the competition.
The Colombian squad failed to defeat Real Cartagena and gave Once Caldas a perfect opportunity to claim the top for themselves. The Aurinegro squad was overwhelmed by Nacional in the Paraguayan league last week, falling to the lower half of the positions table.
Tolima's coach decided to save his best players for a competition he's already lost. Team's captain Gerardo Vallejo, winger Félix Noguera and many others will not travel to Paraguay.
A chance for redemption for Guarani in America's most challenging fight, who'll claim the three points?
Cruzeiro wants to finish the group stage in the top position facing one of the strongest Argentinean squads in La Plata. Pincha's striker Gaston Fenandez returns to the starting eleven, having recovered just on time from a leg injury that's kept him away from the fields since Clausura's fourth round, at the derby against Gimnasia.
Estudiantes' coach Eduardo Berizzo introduces a few modifications in his scheme, considering the top of the Argentinean League stands only two points above their heads. "This is a great opportunity against a rival that we've faced many times, we know each other well" declared Fernandez.
Cruizeiro's massive firepower (seventeen goals scored in five Libertadores games, almost twice as much as Estudiantes), combined with their defensive security (only Deportes Tolima defeated Fabio's goal so far) wants to demonstrate once again they're among the top favorites to lift this year's title.
The memories of Estudiantes' last visit to Belo Horizonte are still vivid in the memories of the Raposas. The top belongs to the Brazilians unless a miracle takes place at the Mineirao, for Cruzerio's fifteen-goal advantage is just overwhelming.
Already eliminated from the Copa Libertadores, Union Española takes on fellow countrymen Universidad Catolica, in need of a victory to claim their ticket for the knockouts. They're still eligible for qualification if the visitors bag the three points, but they'll depend on Caracas defeating Velez Sarsfield to maintain the second position in the group.
This Chilean clash features two teams with different realities. Catolica's coach Juan Antonio Pizzi misses team's top striker Roberto Gutierrez and midfielder Milovan Mirosevic, as they both struggle to recover from their respective injuries.
The hosts need a victory to gain momentum before facing Colo Colo in the Chilean derby next weekend. Former Boca Juniors' playmaker Marcelo Cañete will be responsible for feeding Lucas Pratto and Pablo Calandria, two highly efficient strikers.
Española's boss is aware Universidad Catolica will be a tough nut to crack at San Carlos de Apoquindo. To make things increasingly difficult, Jose Luis Sierra will have to do without Raúl Estévez, Braulio Leal, Sebastián Jaime, Rafael Olarra and Luis Pedro Figueroa, all of them struggling with injuries.
An exciting Chilean clash in the last round of the Group Stage, who'll claim the three points?
Cerro Porteño could secure its place in the round of sixteen upon a positive result as they lock horns with Santos FC on Thursday's night. Libertadores' top striker Roberto Nanni and young playmaker Juan Manuel Iturbe will be responsible for breaking through the packed Brazilian's defense.
Santos celebrated a Pyrrhic victory against Colo Colo last week, as Neymar, Elano and Ze Roberto received a red card and won't be able to perform. Santos' new coach Muricy Ramalho recovers winger Arouca, Elano's natural replacement, and is likely to give Maikon Leite y Keirrison a chance to show their worth in the starting eleven.
"We've already played together before, and thank God, it all worked out pretty well. We hope we can perform at our best in such a decisive challenge" said Kerrison only days before this clash.
Cerro's coach Leonardo Astrada does not want to take his rival for granted. "We haven't yet won anything. A victory over Santos is vital, but let's not forget the importance of next week's matches, when we visit Colo Colo and Santos hosts Deportivo Tachira" said the Argentinean coach.
A major clash in one of the toughest groups in the competition, who'll claim the full scoring?
The Argentinean Fortin must secure the three points in Venezuela this Thursday to claim their place among America's best sixteen. The hosts are one of the big revelations of this tournament, occupying the top position with nine points after five Libertadores games.
Velez Sarsfield celebrated a sound victory in Liniers against Caracas in the first match of the tournament. Caracas' coach Ceferino Bencomo should stop his rival's midfielders from controlling the flow of the ball, and so it's expected Bencomo will opt for a defensive 4-2-3-1 formation, specially considering Nelson Barahona is ruled out due to injuries.
Uruguayan striker Santiago Silva -who missed the first clash between the two teams- will be ready to lead the attack,dangerously associating with Maxi Moralez. Sent off during the last game, Augusto Fernandez is set to miss the game.
Fortin's coach Ricardo Gareca could make some last minute modifications in his scheme, considering David Ramírez and Franco Razzotti have recovered from their injuries and will be fully fit to perform.
Junior Barranquilla wants to confirm its leadership of the second group as they receive the Peruvian Lions in the last game of this stage. Gremio brought Junior Barranquilla back to earth last week by breaking their unbeaten record, but the Colombian squad remains at the top with 12 points.
Junior Barranquilla is two-faced, as their performance in their domestic league has been far from satisfying, occupying the 16th position with eleven points after 10 games. Junior's coach Oscar Quintabani will have to do without John Viáfara and Carlos Macías, both of them struggling with injuries.
Leon's coach Franco Navarro faces this clash as an opportunity to better understand the inner workings of his team. Colombian defender Roller Cambindo will most likely be part of the starting eleven, at Jair Céspedes' expense.
Junior Barranquilla has won both Libertadores games at home by the exact same result, 2-1. The same happened as the Colombian squad visited Peru in the debut match.
Unlike many other groups, there is no place for surprise in group 2. Junior Barranquilla and Gremio have already claimed their ticket for the knockouts. The Brazilian squad travels to Bolivia, eager to claim the three points and secure the top position of the group, confident Leon Huanuco can keep Junior from obtaining the full scoring.
Gremio's coach Renato Portaluppi modifies his scheme, in search of alternatives for the dual fight waiting ahead. Douglas, Gilson and Carlos Alberto stayed in Brazil, while midfielder Maylson is likely to return to the starting squad.
Oriente Petrolero's coach is also likely to modify his scheme, as Mauricio Saucedo, Jhasmany Campos and Alcides Peña have all been under intense physical discomfort for the past few days.
"A victory against Gremio is important, but I'll not risk any of them needlessly" declared Ariel Cuffaro Russo. Two consecutive defeats in the Bolivian league have jeopardized Oriente's leadership of the league.
Diego Terrazas, Ronal Rea and Walter Veizaga are likely to replace the players in risk of injury for this Libertadores clash. Team's goalkeeper Hugo Suarez is expected to return to the fields after a month sidelined due to injuries.
