The Copa Libertadores group stage is winding down, meaning we’re just a couple of weeks away from the really good stuff. This is the second to last round of matches, with group play finishing up next week. A number of the best sides in the tournament -- Juan Roman Riquelme’s Boca Juniors, Ronaldinho’s Atletico Mineiro and defending champions Corinthians, to name a few -- are already qualified for the knockout stage. This week, a handful of others will join them.
Copa Libertadores 2013: Previewing the second to last round of group stage matches
At least three more Copa Libertadores knockout stage participants will be determined during the second to last set of group stage fixtures.
Velez Sarsfield vs. Emelec
Tuesday, 6:15 p.m. ET
Velez already has a place in the knockout stage, and can wrap up a top seed with a draw against Emelec. A point will suit the Ecuadorian side just fine as well, since they only need to draw to hold off Peñarol for second place in the group. Under normal circumstances, this game would probably be a lot of fun, but a handshake draw seems likely.
Tigre vs. Sporting Cristal
Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET
Group 2 is the only group in which none of the teams have played five games yet, so every team is still alive. This includes Tigre and Sporting Cristal, who are placed third and fourth at the moment. Tigre are in last and finish the round away to group leaders Libertad, so realistically, they need to win on Tuesday to feel like they have a good shot to make the knockout round. A draw will be fine for Sporting Cristal, since they’re one point behind Palmeiras and host them on the final match day.
Deportes Tolima vs. Santa Fe
Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET
One of the tightest races in the Libertadores is in Group 6, thanks to Cerro Porteño’s poor showing. The Paraguayan side is on no points, leaving the other sides in a close fight for the top two spots. Deportes Tolima and Sante Fe currently occupy the top two spots, but Santa Fe only leads the other two sides by one point. Santa Fe have performed better than their domestic rivals so far this season in Colombia, where the two teams are yet to play this season, but Deportes Tolima are undefeated at home in their domestic league.
Real Garcilaso vs. Cerro Porteño
Wednesday, 6:45 p.m. ET
Real Garcilaso are third behind their two Colombian rivals in Group 6, but they’ll probably end up in a knockout stage place with the chance to control their own destiny by the end of the week. Anything but a home win against Cerro Porteño would be a big surprise and a bitter disappointment.
Corinthians vs. San Jose
Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET
Corinthians already have a knockout stage place sealed up, and are simply battling Tijuana for first place in the group. They’ll be heavily favored to beat San Jose at home. All five of the Bolivians’ points were earned in La Paz.
Tijuana vs. Millonarios
Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET
Millonarios have just three points from the group, all earned at home against San Jose in a tight match. It’s tough to imagine that they’ll be able to win away to a Tijuana team that defeated them on their own home turf.
Gremio vs. Fluminense
Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET
This is easily the best match of the round, and it takes place in the group that has been the most competitive in the Libertadores from top to bottom. Fluminense are currently one point ahead of Gremio and in a knockout stage place, but both teams have one game in hand on group leaders Huachipato and bottom side Caracas. Both teams will be in a position to control their own destiny on the final match day no matter what happens in this game, but Fluminense can clinch a knockout stage place with a victory.
Palmeiras vs. Libertad
Thursday, 6:15 p.m. ET
Relegation to Brazil’s second division hasn’t stopped Palmeiras for fighting for a knockout stage place in the Libertadores, though they have their very fortunate draw to thank for that. A win could virtually (but not mathematically) seal their place in the next round, but Libertad will like their chances of preventing that. They’ve pulled off one draw on the road in this tournament, against Sporting Cristal, and defeated Palmeiras 2-0 when the two sides met in Paraguay.
CD Lara vs. Universidad de Chile
Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET
Deportivo Lara have already been eliminated from the Libertadores, but they have a chance to play spoiler against one of the continent’s biggest sides this week. Universidad de Chile are in need of a minor miracle to stay alive in the Libertadores, and a win won’t be enough. They need to beat CD Lara, hope Olimpia beat Newell’s, and hope that a seven-goal differential is made up between the two results. Sorry, La U. Your run is probably over.
Olimpia vs. Newell’s Old Boys
Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET
Olimpia are already in the knockout round and will clinch a first-place seed with a draw, so there isn’t much incentive for them to help out La U by delivering a battering to Newell’s. Gerardo Martino, the Newell’s manager, is also a master of the 0-0 road draw. Expect one of those.
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