A
CONMEBOL Libertadores
offers in 2024 something that had not happened in a long time:
a team outside Brazil finishing the group stage with the best overall campaign
.
All credit goes to
River Plate
, who won five out of six games, did not lose any, and advanced to the round of 16 with 16 points, one above
Atlético-MG
and two ahead of
Palmeiras
and
Fluminense
, the current champions.
And what happened the last time a Brazilian team did not clinch the best campaign in the qualifying stage?
ESPN.com.br
tells below.
This occurred in the 2016 Libertadores.
Corinthians
and Atlético-MG qualified as leaders of their groups, while
Grêmio
and
São Paulo
moved on in second place. The worst for Palmeiras, eliminated before the round of 16.
That year, the best campaign was from
Atlético Nacional
, a traditional Colombian team that advanced with 16 points, without losing any games, and without conceding goals.
Atlético continued strong in the Libertadores until confirming their favoritism and becoming champions. They passed Huracán in the round of 16, eliminated Rosario Central next, and defeated São Paulo in the semifinals, with a 2-0 victory at Morumbis.
In the final, the Colombian team overcame
Independiente del Valle
to secure their second Libertadores title in history. Some players from that squad had the opportunity to play in Brazilian football months later, such as forward
Miguel Borja
and midfielder
Alejandro Guerra
, acquired by Palmeiras, and winger
Orlando Berrío
, who played for
.
Now, it’s up to River to keep up the pace and go far in the current Libertadores. If they do, they will have the great advantage of deciding the title at home, as Conmebol has determined that the single final will take place in Buenos Aires for the first time.
The draw for the round of 16 takes place next Monday (1st), at 1pm (Brasília time)
, with live broadcast on
ESPN on Star+
. As the team with the best campaign, River could face
Botafogo
or Flamengo, who both advanced in second place.
Fonte: netfla.com.br
