The 53rd edition of the Copa Libertadores, South America's maximum club competition, will kick-off on January 25 with the first round clash between Penarol and Caracas FC in Montevideo.
The match-up between Penarol of Uruguay and Caracas FC of Venezuela is the only one to have already been decided corresponding to the first stage of the 2012 Copa Libertadores after the draw was made in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Friday.
Penarol, one of the most successful clubs since the installment of the continental competition back in 1960, will entertain the Venezuelans in the inaugurating match at the Centenario stadium of Montevideo on January 25.
Defending champions Santos of Brazil, who boast two of South America's most exciting players in Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso, will take part in Group 1, alongside a team from Peru and Bolivia, and the winners of the first round match-up between a side from Brazil and Colombia.
Velez Sarsfield, the Argentine Clausura champions, will be in Group 7, a group which comprises of Defensor Sporting of Uruguay, Chivas of Mexico and an undecided team from Ecuador. The group has already been labelled 'the Group of Death', due to the quality of the sides in question.
Meanwhile, if Argentine heavyweights Boca Juniors clinch the Argentine Apertura championship they will battle in Group 4, along with Zamora of Venezuela, a team from Brazil and possibly another team from Argentina or one from Peru.
Vasco da Gama, who maintain possibilities of winning the Brazilian championship, participate in Group 5 as the winners of the 2011 Copa do Brasil. They will battle with Uruguayan giants Nacional, a team from Peru and the winner of a first round match-up between a team from Paraguay and Ecuador.
While Penarol was the first team to win the Copa Libertadores back in 1960, the most successful club in the entire history of the competition are Independiente with seven titles, with the last being in 1984. They are closely followed by fellow Argentines Boca Juniors with six titles.
The country which has triumphed the most in the Copa Libertadores is Argentina, with 22 victories. Argentina is followed by arch-rivals Brazil, with 15 championships. Uruguay is the third most successful country of the competition, with its two biggest clubs Nacional and Penarol having won a combined 8 titles. The remaining seven title triumphs are made up of teams from Paraguay, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador.
Penarol, one of the most successful clubs since the installment of the continental competition back in 1960, will entertain the Venezuelans in the inaugurating match at the Centenario stadium of Montevideo on January 25.
Defending champions Santos of Brazil, who boast two of South America's most exciting players in Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso, will take part in Group 1, alongside a team from Peru and Bolivia, and the winners of the first round match-up between a side from Brazil and Colombia.
Velez Sarsfield, the Argentine Clausura champions, will be in Group 7, a group which comprises of Defensor Sporting of Uruguay, Chivas of Mexico and an undecided team from Ecuador. The group has already been labelled 'the Group of Death', due to the quality of the sides in question.
Meanwhile, if Argentine heavyweights Boca Juniors clinch the Argentine Apertura championship they will battle in Group 4, along with Zamora of Venezuela, a team from Brazil and possibly another team from Argentina or one from Peru.
Vasco da Gama, who maintain possibilities of winning the Brazilian championship, participate in Group 5 as the winners of the 2011 Copa do Brasil. They will battle with Uruguayan giants Nacional, a team from Peru and the winner of a first round match-up between a team from Paraguay and Ecuador.
While Penarol was the first team to win the Copa Libertadores back in 1960, the most successful club in the entire history of the competition are Independiente with seven titles, with the last being in 1984. They are closely followed by fellow Argentines Boca Juniors with six titles.
The country which has triumphed the most in the Copa Libertadores is Argentina, with 22 victories. Argentina is followed by arch-rivals Brazil, with 15 championships. Uruguay is the third most successful country of the competition, with its two biggest clubs Nacional and Penarol having won a combined 8 titles. The remaining seven title triumphs are made up of teams from Paraguay, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador.
