COPA LIBERTADORES MOVES INTO THE LAST 16

The 16 best club teams in the South America (and Mexico) were finally matched together yesterday after Wednesday and Thursday’s Copa Libertadores results completed the group phase.

The seeding system determined the last 16 draw for the Copa Libertadores with the 8 group winners facing the 8 runner ups respectively.

As a result the highlight of the draw brought Group 4 winners, Fluminense with Internacional into an all Brazil tie.

Surprisingly no Uruguayan teams managed to progress to the next round however Bolivar became the first team to qualify for the knock out stage for 12 years, their reward being a double header against the centenary, celebrating Brazilian side Santos.

Mexico has only one representative in Cruz Azul (after Chivas Guadalajara was humbled 5-0 by Deportivo Quito) they must now face Paraguay’s only team Libertad.

Ecuador’s Emelec will face Corinthians and Deportivo Quito plays Universidad de Chile.

Brazilian giants Vasco de Gama will have to overcome Lanus of Argentina while Boca Juniors will play Union Espanola of Chile.

                 Fluminense (Brazil)   vs  Internacional (Brazil)

             Corinthians (Brazil)   vs  Emelec          (Ecuador)

             Santos (Brazil)            vs  Bolivar          (Bolivia)

             Universidad de Chile vs Deportivo Quito (Ecuador)       

             Libertad (Paraguay)   vs Cruz Azul (Mexico)         

             Velez Sarsfield (Arg)   vs  Atletico Nacional (Columbia)

             Lanus (Argentina)       vs Vasco da Gama      (Brazil)

             Union Espanola(Chile) vs Boca Juniors (Argentina)

So, the last 16 is dominated by 5 Brazil teams then 3 Argentineans teams, two sides from Ecuador and Chile leaving one each from Bolivia, Mexico, Columbia and Paraguay.

The 1^st legs will be played between May 1^st and 3^rd and the return matches a week later.