We enter the second half of the group stage in the 2021 Copa Libertadores, and the kind of surprises we have witnessed in the first three games could see some of the top candidates being kicked out of the tournament after just four games.
Before we have a deeper look at what will be in store for us this week, we should have a look at the state of each group.
Group A could give us the first team with a secure spot in the next round, as defending champions Palmeiras could seal their ticket to the KO stage by beating Independiente del Valle. Defensa y Justicia are in the mix for the runners-up spot, while Peruvian side Universitario seem to need a miracle to reach the second place. As for Group B, Internacional and Bolivian club Always Ready are level at six points, while Olimpia and Deportivo Táchira need to step it up before being left out of the next round.
Group C could also give us a chance to see one more team reaching the next round, as Barcelona are a win away from making it to the KO stage. This group could hold the first big surprise of the competition, as either Boca Juniors or Santos may exit the tournament if things remain as they stand. Meanwhile, Group D is still as tight as when it began, with Fluminense and River Plate calling the shots with five points each.
Group E has seen Sao Paulo extending their dominance, but Racing Club is close by and they could steal the top spot from their grip in a second. On the other hand, Group F could also see Argentinos Juniors nabbing a spot in the next round with a win in their upcoming match.
Flamengo may claim a spot in the KO Stage if they find a way to beat Unión La Calera, which may leave either LDU Quito or Vélez Sarsfield out of the tournament. As for Group H, Atlético Mineiro could get closer to sealing a sport in the next round by beating América de Cali this week.
Matchday 4 will kick off with a bang as six games are set to take place on Tuesday. Out of those, fans should really pay attention to Santos vs Boca Juniors and Independiente del Valle vs Palmeiras.
Wednesday will come by with seven games to be played. The Argentinos Juniors vs U. Católica game will surely gather a lot of interest, whilst Junior vs River Plate might also be quite entertaining to witness.
Matchday 4 will come to an end with three games, but that game between América de Cali and Atlético Mineiro promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats due to the Brazilian side's chances of earning a spot in the next round if things go as planned.
Here's the full schedule for Matchday 4 in the 2021 Copa Libertadores.
