The big party starts! The Libertadores already has its map
The draw in Luque, Paraguay, outlined the path that 32 teams must follow. The group stage begins on April 7 and promises heart-stopping duels from the first minute.
What matters: the first two in each zone go to the second round. Third parties will have a lifeline in the Copa Sudamericana. After a break for the World Cup in North America, the action returns in August.
A duel of champions to start everything
Group A is pure history. Flamengo, which wants its fourth crown in eight years, runs into Estudiantes de La Plata. It is a modern classic. They met in the quarterfinals last year and Mengao went through penalties.
Both met in the quarterfinals in the last edition, with Mengao winning on penalties.
A no small detail: Boca Juniors returns to the competition after two years out of the group stage. Their star rival will be Cruzeiro, reliving the 1977 final that the xeneizes won.
Fluminense, the 2023 champion, returns after a year away. His litmus test will be playing at the height of La Paz against Bolívar.
The absences that are noticeable
Some heavyweights will not be there. Botafogo, champion in 2024, was left out after losing to Barcelona de Guayaquil in the preliminaries. We will not see River Plate, Atlético Mineiro or Gremio either.
They will play the Sudamericana. An opportunity for others, but it undoubtedly takes away the shine of the initial picture.
Brazilian teams have lifted the trophy for seven consecutive years. The pressure is on to maintain that streak.
The road to Montevideo
The grand final is scheduled for November 28 in Montevideo. There is a long road ahead, full of travel, tactics and a lot of passion.
Each group has its own story. From the debutant Mirassol to the veteran Nacional of Uruguay, who is playing his 53rd tournament.
The moral is clear: in the Libertadores there are no easy games. Every point is sweated, every pass counts. The continental dream has just begun for everyone.
