Libertadores and Sul-Americana: the situation of the Brazilians in the last round

The last round of the Libertadores and Sudamericana group stages promises strong emotions for Brazilian clubs. While teams like Flamengo, Corinthians and Botafogo already have a very comfortable situation, other giants are experiencing a dramatic scenario, such as Fluminense, Santos and Vasco.

In addition to the fight for classification, the definition of group leaders gained even more importance after the change in Conmebol regulations. This year, the main tiebreaker criterion became the direct confrontation between the tied teams, before the overall goal difference.

In the Libertadores, the top two teams advance to the round of 16, while the third place goes to the South American playoffs. In the South American Championship, only the leader of each group advances directly to the round of 16; the second competes in a playoff against a third-placed team from the Libertadores.

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Libertadores
Flamengo has already secured leadership
In Group A of the Libertadores, Flamengo reaches the final round without any pressure. Rubro-Negro had its victory confirmed by Conmebol by W.O. against Independiente Medellín, in a duel canceled in Colombia, and reached 13 points.

With this, the team mathematically secured the lead in the group. Against Cusco, at Maracanã, Fla will try to take the overall lead in the group stage. The dispute for the second place in Group A was between Independiente Medellín and Estudiantes.

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Top Cifras

Toque agora.

1 As Cancoes Que Voce Fez Pra Mim Roberto Carlos

2 A Taste Of Honey Vince Guaraldi

3 Chega Zezé Di Camargo & Luciano

4 Natural Anton Ewald

Fluminense depends on combination
Fluminense's situation, even after beating Bolívar, is one of the most delicate among Brazilians in the Libertadores. The Rio team appears third in Group C, with five points, and does not depend solely on itself to advance.

The team needs to beat Deportivo La Guaira, at Maracanã, and hope that Bolívar doesn't beat the already classified Independiente Rivadavia.

Conmebol's new criteria weighs directly against the Cariocas. If Bolívar wins in the last round, Fluminense will be eliminated even if they win, because they would lose in a direct confrontation against the Bolivians.

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Cruzeiro advances to vacancy
Cruzeiro came out stronger after snatching a 1-1 draw with Boca Juniors, in La Bombonera, despite playing more than 30 minutes with one player less.

Raposa is second in Group D, with eight points, and only depends on a victory over the already unpretentious Barcelona de Guayaquil, at Mineirão, to guarantee a place in the round of 16.

Boca Juniors appears right behind, with seven points, while Universidad Católica leads, with ten points. In addition to the classification, therefore, Cruzeiro still dreams of the first position in the bracket.

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Corinthians plays for first place
In Group E, Corinthians reaches the final round calmly. With 11 points, the team from São Paulo has already secured qualification to the round of 16 as leader of the group and now aims to have the best possible score, aiming to also be the home team in a possible quarter-final and/or semi-final.

Platense, a black and white opponent in the last round, has seven points and is competing for the other place in the round of 16 with Santa Fe, with five. Peñarol, with three, only dreams of third place to be able to go to the Su-Americana playoffs.

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Palmeiras sees leadership threatened
Palmeiras complicated the situation by losing at home to Cerro Porteño. The result dropped Verdão to second place in Group F.

Despite this, the classification is still very close. Abel Ferreira's team only depends on victory over Junior Barranquilla, at Allianz Parque, to advance to the round of 16.

Elimination only happens in the event of a defeat for the Colombians combined with a victory for Sporting Cristal over Cerro Porteño. Leadership has become complicated.

Palmeiras needs to win and hope that Cerro loses, as the direct confrontation favors the Paraguayans.

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Mirassol has a historic campaign
One of the biggest surprises of the Libertadores, Mirassol reaches the last round already classified in the round of 16 and very close to confirming first place in Group G.

The team from São Paulo has 12 points and only depends on a draw against Lanús to secure the lead. If you lose and LDU wins, the definition will be based on the tiebreaker criteria, as there is equality in the direct confrontation between Brazilians and Ecuadorians.

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Sul-Americana
Atlético-MG is experiencing a messy group
Group B of the Sul-Americana arrives completely open. Atlético-MG, Puerto Cabello and Cienciano have seven points, while Juventud have six.

Galo has an advantage in the direct confrontation and only depends on a victory to advance straight to the round of 16.

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São Paulo depends only on itself
São Paulo leads Group C, with nine points, and will be in a comfortable position in the final round. Tricolor hosts the already eliminated Boston River, at Morumbis, and guarantees a direct place in the round of 16 in case of victory.

Millonarios and O'Higgins continue in pursuit, separated by just one point. If São Paulo stumbles, it could even end up out of the lead.

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Santos is experiencing drama
Santos reaches the last round without relying solely on itself and still without winning in the competition. The draw against San Lorenzo, after opening 2-0 at Vila Belmiro, left Peixe in an extremely delicate situation.

With four points, the São Paulo team can only finish in second place, a position that gives them a place in the playoffs. To do this, they need to beat Deportivo Cuenca and hope that Deportivo Recoleta doesn't defeat San Lorenzo in Argentina. Any other scenario eliminates Santos.

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Botafogo in the round of 16
Group E is completely resolved. With 13 points, Botafogo is guaranteed in the round of 16, while Caracas, with nine, goes to the playoffs. Racing, with five points, and Independiente Petrolero, with zero, are eliminated.

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Grêmio decides leadership
In Group F, Grêmio faces a decisive duel against leader Montevideo City Torque. Tricolor has ten points, two less than the Uruguayans, and guarantees a direct place in the round of 16 in case of victory. If you draw or lose, you will go to the playoffs against a third-placed team from the Libertadores.

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Vasco depends on combination
Vasco lost the lead in Group G after defeat to Olimpia, in Asunción, and will now need a combination of results to finish first. The Rio team needs to beat Barracas Central and hope that Audax Italiano defeats Olimpia by up to two goals.

If the Chilean team wins by a larger margin, they will take the lead in the group. In the event of a draw or defeat by Vasco, the Cruz-Maltino club will have to compete in the playoffs or could even be eliminated, depending on the combination.

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Bragantino plays direct confrontation
Red Bull Bragantino also arrives under pressure for the final round of the South American Championship. The São Paulo team drew with River Plate and left the situation open in Group H.

River, with 11 points, has already secured, at least, the playoffs, while Massa Bruta, with seven, is no longer able to qualify directly for the round of 16. Carabobo, Bragantino's last opponent, has nine points and still dreams of the lead. Blooming, with one, is eliminated.

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Understand the tiebreaker criteria
Conmebol changed the tiebreaker criteria for the 2026 season.

Now, in case of equality in points, the order is:

- Points in direct confrontation
- Goal balance in direct confrontation
- Goals scored in direct confrontation
- Overall goal balance
- Goals scored
- Goals scored as a visitor
- Fewer red cards
- Fewer yellow cards
- Conmebol Ranking

Brazilian team: see the squad list for the World Cup

Source: CNN