- Fluminense-Platense, Estudiantes-Corinthians, Palmeiras-Liga de Quito and Flamengo-Independiente del Valle will be the four Quarter-final ties.
- Brazil will have four representatives, while Argentina and Ecuador will have two teams each.
The CONMEBOL Libertadores now knows the eight teams still in contention for the Eternal Glory. The conclusion of the Round of 16 has produced a bracket featuring former champions, leading contenders, knockout specialists and a debutant that continues to push beyond its own limits.
Fluminense, Estudiantes, Platense, Corinthians, Palmeiras, Liga de Quito, Flamengo and Independiente del Valle all overcame different challenges to establish themselves among the continent’s elite. Three of them needed penalty shootouts to advance, while all eight had to navigate demanding ties to move one step closer to the Final on November 28 in Montevideo.
Estudiantes vs Corinthians
Estudiantes produced their best performance of the tie away from La Plata. After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, Alexander Medina’s side defeated Universidad Católica 3-0 in Santiago, with two goals from Guido Carrillo and another from Javier Correa. The four-time champions turned what had initially been a finely balanced tie into an emphatic victory and returned to the Quarter-finals.
Corinthians advanced by the narrowest of margins, but with a display of character. ‘Timão’ drew 0-0 with Rosario Central in Argentina before winning 1-0 at the Neo Química Arena, where they had to hold on with ten men following Raniele’s sending-off. Breno Bidon scored the goal that decided the tie and kept alive the 2012 champions’ dream of lifting their second Eternal Glory.
First leg: Wednesday, September 9 at 9:30 p.m. (local time) at the UNO Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium in La Plata.
Second leg: Wednesday, September 16 at 9:30 p.m. (local time) at Neo Química Arena in São Paulo.
Flamengo vs Independiente del Valle
Flamengo remain on course to defend their crown. The 2025 CONMEBOL Libertadores champions drew 1-1 with Cruzeiro in Belo Horizonte before sealing qualification with a 2-1 victory in front of a packed Maracanã. Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Samuel Lino scored the goals on a standout night for Pedro, as Flamengo look to take another step towards a second consecutive Final.
Independiente del Valle were the last team to complete the Quarter-final line-up, and they did so in commanding fashion. Joaquín Papa’s side won 1-0 in Ibagué before defeating Deportes Tolima 3-1 in Quito to complete a 4-1 aggregate victory. The Ecuadorian side, runners-up in 2016 and two-time CONMEBOL Sudamericana champions, will meet Flamengo again in a tie that pits the reigning champions against one of the continent’s great ‘giant-killers’.
First leg: Thursday, September 10 at 7:30 p.m. (local time) at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito.
Second leg: Thursday, September 17 at 9:30 p.m. (local time) at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Palmeiras vs Liga de Quito
Palmeiras had to secure qualification away from home. After a 1-1 draw against Cerro Porteño at Allianz Parque, Abel Ferreira’s side won 1-0 at La Nueva Olla thanks to a header from Gustavo Gómez. Last year’s runners-up once again delivered in a decisive knockout tie and returned to the continent’s final eight.
Liga de Quito eliminated Mirassol in a tie that remained balanced throughout. The Ecuadorian side earned a 1-1 draw in Brazil, drew 0-0 in Quito and won the penalty shootout 5-4, with Gonzalo Valle emerging as the hero. The matchup will be a rematch of the unforgettable 2025 Semi-final: Liga won the first leg 3-0 at home, but Palmeiras overturned the tie with a 4-0 victory in São Paulo. One year later, they will meet again for a place among the final four.
First leg: Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. (local time) at NuBank Parque in São Paulo.
Second leg: Wednesday, September 16 at 5:00 p.m. (local time) at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium.
Fluminense vs Platense
Fluminense survived a hugely tense knockout tie against Independiente Rivadavia. After a goalless draw at the Maracanã, they earned a 1-1 draw in Mendoza despite playing much of the second half with ten men. Qualification was decided from the penalty spot, where Fábio’s experience proved decisive: the goalkeeper saved two attempts to secure a 5-4 shootout victory.
Platense also built their qualification on resilience. They drew 1-1 with Coquimbo Unido in Vicente López, held on for a 0-0 draw in the return leg in Chile and prevailed 7-6 on penalties, with Juan Pablo Cozzani taking centre stage. ‘Calamar’ became the first Argentine team since Banfield in 2005 to reach the Quarter-finals on their CONMEBOL Libertadores debut and will now take on the 2023 champions.
First leg: Tuesday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m. (local time) at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Second leg: Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m. (local time) at the Estadio Ciudad de Vicente López in Vicente López.
