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2010 Copa Libertadores Rd. of 16 Is Set

Posted by Anonymous 4.23.2010

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The tournament also known as the Copa Libertadores de América has moved into the Round of 16. The South American equivalent to the UEFA Champions League is now into its most exciting part of the tournament.

BRAZILIAN TEAMS SHOW POWER IN LIBERTADORES

Brazilian sides continue their emphasis on winning Libertadores' trophies as all 5 of their representatives advanced to the Round of 16. Corinthians earned the #1 seed as they went undefeated in Group 1 winning 5 of their 6 group matches. Timão will face another popular Brazilian side in the Round of 16 as they take on #16 seed Flamengo. A clash of São Paulo vs. Río de Janeiro and the '09 Copa Do Brasil champs vs. '09 Brasileirão champs.

São Paulo FC earned the #2 seed by winning Group 2 with a stingy defense. Tricolor Paulista allowed only 2 goals in the group stage. An impressive number matched only by Universitario of Peru and another Brazilian side Internacional.

The Porto Alegre side won Group 5 on the last match of the group stage. O Colorado beat Deportivo Quito 3-0 at home to ensure Internacional's place in the Round of 16 as a #6 seed. They will face the '09 Argentine Apertura champions, Banfield.

Last year's finalists, Cruzeiro was the only Brazilian side not to win their group but they gained the #10 seed by finishing 2nd in Group 7. Raposa will take on Group 6 winners and #7 seed, Nacional of Uruguay.

ESTUDIANTES LEADS ARGENTINE SIDES INTO KNOCKOUT STAGES

The defending champions, Estudiantes La-Plata breezed into the Round of 16 as a #3 seed by winning Group 3 with 13 points. La Pincha must get past Mexican side San Luis, who got a pass into the Round of 16 after last year's swine flu controversy that led to Mexican to withdraw from the '09 edition.

The 2009 Argentine Clausura champions Vélez Sarsfield earned the #4 seed as El Fortín won Group 7. They will face the other Mexican side in the Round of 16 Chivas de Guadalajara. Chivas is a #13 seed and is the 2nd Argentina vs. México matchup of the Round of 16.

Banfield, the 2009 Argentine Apertura champions will occupy the #11 seed by virtue of finishing 2nd in Group 6. In their 3rd Libertadores appearance, Banfield will face Internacional of Porto Alegre in the only matchup of Argentina vs. Brazil in the Round of 16.

PERUVIAN SIDES SURPRISE THEIR WAY INTO ROUND OF 16

The biggest surprise of this year's tournament has to be the advancement of 2 Peruvian teams to the Round of 16. Its the most representatives Perú has had in the knockout stage since 1995 when Sporting Cristal and Alianza Lima made the Round of 16. Alianza Lima enters this year's Round of 16 as the #9 seed after finishing 2nd in Group 3, one point behind defending champions Estudiantes. Alianza Lima will face #8 seed, Universidad De Chile.

Universitario is Perú's other representative in the Round of 16 as they advanced as the 2nd placed team from Group 4. La U de Perú has a tough task ahead as the #15 seed because they will face #2 São Paulo in a clash of the best defenses from the group stage. One of these sides is trying to break a 13-year drought of Peruvian teams reaching the final when Sporting Cristal lost to Cruzeiro in 1997.

SEMIFINALS TO TAKE PLACE AFTER WORLD CUP

After the quarterfinals are completed the final 4 teams will have to wait until after the World Cup to finish their quest to be South American champions. A smart move by CONCACAF especially since the South American sides are strong candidates to make a deep run in South Africa. The 1st leg of the Copa Lib semis are scheduled for July 27th and the 2nd leg set for August 5th.


Here is the 2010 Copa Libertadores Knockout Stage Bracket:


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