• The Group Stage came to an end after six exciting rounds.

CONMEBOL Libertadores already has its 16 protagonists for the Round of 16. After six intense rounds, with candidates who confirmed their weight, surprises that went against the forecasts, and groups defined by minimal details, the competition enters its most anticipated stretch: the elimination matches

The Group Stage left dominant campaigns, such as those of Flamengo, Independente Rivadavia, Cerro Porteño and Independente del Valle; historic classifications, such as those of Coquimbo Unido, Mirassol and Platense; and also hard-working advances by teams with a history of coping, such as Palmeiras, Fluminense, Liga de Quito, Cruzeiro and Estudiantes. From now on, there will be no more room to speculate: each match will be a test of character, hierarchy, and

Recall the campaign of each of the teams qualified before the Round of 16 draw, which will take place this Friday, May 29, starting at 12:00 in Paraguay.

Pot 1: 

Flamengo

Group Stage Leaders

The current champion crossed the Group Stage with candidate authority. He finished first in Group A, undefeated, with 16 points out of 18 possible, 14 goals scored and just two conceded. It was one of the strongest teams in the opening phase: solid behind, dominant in attack and with a goal score that earned it the best campaign in the opening phase. With a fearsome attack consisting of Bruno Henrique, Pedro and Lucas Paquetá, Mengão will also have the return of Giorgian de Arrascaeta to seek the

two-time championship.

Independente Rivadavia

The biggest reveal of the Group Stage. Lepra Mendocina wrote a first international campaign that will remain forever in the memory of its fans. In a highly difficult group, the team led by Alfredo Berti imposed conditions very early on by winning a record like Bolívar. In the second round, he won his own Maracanazo against Fluminense and began to build a path on which he also prevailed away from home: he scored six points as a visitor, with victories over Deportivo La Guaira and Bolívar. With Álex Arce as the goal scorer and an offensive structure led by Sebastián Villa,

in Mendoza everyone allows themselves to dream.

Independente del Valle

Recurrent presence in the last decade, Matagigantes reappeared in all its dimensions to take the lead of Group H in the head-to-head match against Rosario Central in the last round. With the penalty converted by Junior Sornoza, the Ecuadorian champion established himself as one of the best teams in the Group Stage. With Carlos González as its main offensive emblem, the IDV will try to repeat the exploits to which it has become accustomed in recent times

.

Universidad Católica

The journey had not started well for the Crusaders: the loss at home to Boca Juniors anticipated a pessimistic outcome. But Daniel Garnero's team didn't give up, quickly assimilated the coup and won two decisive victories away from home against Cruzeiro and Barcelona from Guayaquil. The draw at home against Raposa and the victory over the Ecuadorians as principal left her in a privileged position, but with the obligation to resist in La Bombonera against a Xeneize in the face of a Xeneize in need of victory. UC, however, shone in a highly complex exam and took the lead in Group D when they won in Buenos Aires with a goal scored by Clemente Montes, one of the most outstanding players in the Chilean squad in the opening phase

.

Cerro Porteño

The Paraguayan team finished as leader of Group F with 13 points, the product of four wins and a draw. After the initial loss in Callao against Sporting Cristal, Ariel Holan's team grew week by week and won two significant victories against Junior, in Cartagena de Indias, and against Palmeiras, in São Paulo. The stellar appearance of Pablo Vegetti, who scored the winning goals against Tiburón and Verdà, was decisive. The top scorer, a strong reinforcement to compete on the international stage, also scored the first 2-0 against Sporting Cristal, which defined the lead

.

Liga de Quito

semifinalist 2025, the LDU is always a competitive guarantee. In the fifth round, she won a decisive victory against Lanús in an early final: the 2-0 allowed her future in Group G. Although she had to suffer in the last round with the partial reaction of Always Ready, Deyverson's stellar appearance, with two goals, allowed her to celebrate an agonizing

3-2 that brought her to the top of the standings.

Corinthians

Timão has undergone a positive transformation since the hiring of Fernando Diniz as coach. His start in Group E was overwhelming, with nine points out of nine possible in the first three rounds: he beat Platense against Vicente López in the debut, made his home debut with a victory against Santa Fe and applied a categorical 2-0 against Peñarol in São Paulo. In the second half of the Group Stage, he faced more difficult scenarios, with the agonizing tie against Santa Fe in the fourth round and the equality against Manya in Montevideo. The loss to Platense at home did not influence the outcome: he had already consummated his

classification as leader.

Coquimbo Unido

was one of the great surprises of the Group Stage. He won Group B with 10 points, ahead of Deportes Tolima, Nacional and Universitario, and built his classification based on a balanced campaign: three wins, one draw and two losses. His strength lay in competing every match at the limit and taking advantage of a very even bracket to finish at the top. The Pirates made their home a stronghold to win triumphs against Universitario and Deportes Tolima, a condition that they must repeat if they want to continue building

a historic campaign.

Pot 2: Vice-leaders of the 

Rosario Central

Group Stage

Ángel Di María's Canalla built a great campaign during the first phase, standing out for their offensive power and supported by an almost impregnable defense: only in the last game, with a penalty from Junior Sornoza, did Canalla conceded his first goal. The defeat moved the team led by Jorge Almirón to second place, but the Arroyito Giant is already eagerly awaiting

the elimination matches.

Mirassol

Another debutant who made history by advancing to the Round of 16. At the Maião Stadium, he built a stronghold where he won nine of his twelve points, with victories against Lanús, Always Ready and Liga de Quito. The victory against the Bolivians away from home was decisive for winning the second spot in the group, ahead of Lanús who, in 2025, was the CONMEBOL Sudamericana champion and, in 2026, revalidated his credentials in the CONMEBOL Recopa. Leão da Alta Araraquarense will have to keep his stadium impregnable to

continue writing new chapters.

Palmeiras

Runner-up in the 2025 edition and absolute leader of the Brasileirão, Abel Ferreira's team is an international guarantee. Although they had to fight to the end, Verdà showed off their full offensive potential against Junior de Barranquilla, with José Manuel López who celebrated his call for the World Cup with three assists in the final 4-1, a result that guaranteed second place in Group F.

Cruzeiro

Raposa eliminated any doubts with a categorical victory in the last round against Barcelona. With Matheus Pereira on a big night, the Brazilian team sealed its place in the Round of 16 as vice-leader of Group D. The second-round defeat against Universidad Católica seemed to complicate their plans, but the 1-0 at home against Boca Juniors was decisive, as were the away draws against Universidad Católica, in Chile, and against Boca Juniors, in Argentina

.

Platense

Another debutant who made history. Squid fulfilled its mission: from the neighborhood to the continent, and now to the Round of 16. Along the way, Platense wrote two of the most glorious pages in its history to place itself among the 16 best: it beat two continental champions, with a long international tradition, such as Peñarol and Corinthians. Against Manya, he won 2-1 in the Campeón del Siglo, with another fundamental goal from Guido Mainero, and Franco Zapiola appeared in all his glory against Timão for 2-0 at the Neo

Química Arena.

Estudiantes

Pincha won a hard-earned classification in Group A, behind Flamengo. He scored nine points, the product of two wins, three draws and just one loss, in a campaign marked by his historic mystic cup. After the agonizing victory against Independente Medellín, with a goal scored by Mikel Amondarain in the final minutes, the La Plata team ranked among the 16 best in the continent and promises to always be

a tough opponent to crack.

Deportes Tolima

The Colombian team made Ibagué its greatest ally to finish as vice-leader in Group B. After an initial tie against Universitario, the Pijaos strengthened at home to beat first Coquimbo Unido and then the Nacional. The contrast with his visiting campaign was evident, but the tie in Lima in the last round allowed the team to advance among the top 16. Coach Lucas González raised the team's collective level and will try to surprise

also in the qualifying rounds.

Fluminense

The champion of the 2023 edition corrected a disappointing start in the last few rounds: he drew as a visitor in his debut against La Guaira, fell at home against Independente Rivadavia, lost to Bolívar at the altitude of La Paz and redeemed a draw during his visit to Mendoza. But in the last two rounds, he took advantage of the field command and defeated the Bolivians 2-1 and Deportivo La Guaira 3-1 in the final round. The outburst was emotional for the team led by Luis Zubeldía, who is in third place in the Brazilian Championship and dreams of winning his second

continental crown.