With Barcelona winning the Europe's top club competition its time to focus on South America's top club competition. Its quarterfinals time in the Copa Libertadres and we are getting closer to having a champion. Wednesday's matches featured 3 Brazilian sides.

In the 1st leg of an all Brazilian affair Cruzeiro beat São Paulo 2-1 at the Mineirao. Goals by Leonardo Silva & Ze Carlos gave A Raposa the advantage although new São Paulo forward Washington scored to give Tricolor Paulista a good chance to advance heading into the 2nd leg at the Morumbi.

FC Caracas got a 1-1 draw at home against #1 seed Grêmio. The Venezuelans surprised the Brazilian early with Gabriel Cichero's goal in the 2nd minute but Fabio Santos equalized in the 75th to give Paulo Autori's men the important road goal heading to the 2nd leg in Porto Alegre.

Thursday's matches featured 2 Uruguayan sides. Defensor Sporting's dream run might be over after they lost to a red-hot Estudiantes side 1-0 at home. Leandro Desabato's goal in the 13th minute gave the Argentines the road goal and aggregate advantage heading into the 2nd leg in La Plata.

The other Uruguayan side playing on Thursday was Nacional and they drew 1-1 on the road against Palmeiras. Santiago García scored the all important road goal in the 81st minute with 2nd leg set for the legendary Centenario stadium in Montevideo.

Here are the results from the quarterfinal 1st legs:


WEDNESDAY, MAY 27th

Cruzeiro (BRA) 2 - 1 São Paulo (BRA)
CRZ: Leonardo Silva (45') & Ze Carlos (66')
SPO: Washington (57')

FC Caracas (VEN) 1 - 1 Grêmio (BRA)
CAR: Gabriel Cichero (2')
GRE: Fabio Santos (75')

THURSDAY, MAY 28th

Def. Sporting (URU) 0 - 1 Estudiantes (ARG)
EST: Leandro Desabato (13')

Palmeiras (BRA) 1 - 1 Nacional (URU)
PAL: Diego Souza (56')
NAC: Santiago García (80')

SEMIFINALS

Cruzeiro - São Paulo winner vs. FC Caracas - Grêmio winner

Defensor Sporting - Estudiantes winner vs Palmeiras - Nacional winner