Quarterfinals, Copa Libertadores 2023: keys, when it is played and classified

The quarterfinals of the Libertadores Cup 2023 is just around the corner. After experiencing several exciting matches in the round of 16, the final stretch of the most important tournament in America is getting closer and closer. With several surprise teams such as: Deportivo Pereira and Bolívar, or unexpected eliminations such as: River Plate, or also, historical qualifiers such as: Boca Juniors and Palmeiras.

Waiting to close the duels between Racing vs. Atlético Nacional, which in the first leg was 4-2 in favor of the Colombians and Olimpia vs. Flamengo, which is 1-0 for the first match played in Rio de Janeiro, thus the matches of the Copa Libertadores 2023 remain:

Quarterfinals, Copa Libertadores 2023

• Boca Juniors vs. Racing or National Athletic
• Deportivo Pereira vs. palmeiras
• Bolivar vs. International
• Fluminense vs. Olympia or Flamengo

Boca, Palmeiras and the surprising Pereira sign the Libertadores quarter book

Boca Juniors and Palmeiras, candidates for the title, and the surprising Deportivo Pereira, now turned into “giant killers”, advanced this Wednesday to the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores 2023, a day marked by the debut of Uruguayan striker Édinson Cavani with Xeneize .

In a packed Bombonera to witness the debut of Cavani with the historic ’10’ of Riquelme and Maradona, Boca suffered the unthinking against Nacional from Uruguay, with whom they drew 2-2 in 90 minutes, forcing a penalty shootout to meet the owner of the pass to the quarterfinals.

In penalties, Sergio Romero, the Boca goalkeeper, stood out by stopping the shots of Juan Ramírez and Daniel Bocanegra, leaving the series from the white point 4-2 in favor of the blue and gold.

The Uruguayan Miguel Merentiel (11) and the Peruvian Luis Advíncula (47) scored the goals for Boca in the 90 minutes, while Alfonso Trezza (16) and Juan Ramírez (75) scored for Nacional, bringing the overall series it was 2-2, after 0-0 in the first game in Montevideo.

Xeneize will meet in the quarterfinals with the winner of the series between Argentine Racing and Atlético Nacional, who won the first match in Medellín 4-2.

– Palmeiras meets Pereira –

In Sao Paulo, Palmeiras confirmed its favoritism for the title by eliminating another heavyweight, Atlético Mineiro, and qualifying for the quarterfinals by drawing 0-0.

The defending champion of the Brasileirao asserted the 1-0 victory in the first leg of the round of 16 between Brazilian teams, played last week in Belo Horizonte, and walks firmly in his dream of conquering his fourth continental crown.

The paulistas, led by the Portuguese Abel Ferreira, who has established them as leading players in South America, will seek a place in the semifinals against the Colombian Deportivo Pereira, the new “giant killer” in the region.

In the Ecuadorian capital, the modest Pereira, absolute debutant in the main Conmebol club tournament, became strong to draw 1-1 with Independiente del Valle, whom he had defeated in Colombia 1-0.

Michael Hoyos excited the local fans with a goal at minute 6, but in minute 88 he missed a penalty. Larry Angulo had equalized at 50 for Pereira.

Penalties reward Inter and Bolívar with the rooms, and bury River and Paranaense

River Plate, one of the candidates for the continental title, and Athletico Paranaense, finalist last year, culminated their participation in the 2023 Copa Libertadores by falling this Tuesday in two tense definitions by penalties, which prolonged the life of Inter de Porto Alegre and Bolivar.

El Millonario, who celebrated his thirty-eighth Argentine league title in mid-July, the first for his coach Martín Demichelis, put an end to a Cup campaign tinged with ups and downs by losing to Inter 9-8 on penalties and 2 -1 in the 90 minutes, the same result that made him the winner in the first leg in Buenos Aires.

Argentine defender Gabriel Mercado (70) and midfielder Alan Patrick (78) put the Brazilians ahead, who were ready to end the series in regulation time, when Paraguayan defender Robert Rojas (90) discounted and sent the key to definition from the twelve steps.

After 18 shots from the white point, the ‘red gaúchos’ of Argentine coach Eduardo Coudet, a former millionaire who was able to win five national titles as a red band midfielder, advanced to the round in search of their third crown, because Pablo Solari had his shot disallowed for hitting it with both feet and Rojas smashed his shot off the crossbar.

Inter now awaits an interesting duel with Bolívar from Bolivia, who also took the victory from the white point by beating Athletico Paranaense 5-4 in Curitiba, after Furaçao forced the definition with a 2-0 win in the 90 minutes and level the overall score 3-3 (Bolívar’s 3-1 victory in the first leg).

– Surprise in Curitiba –

El Bolívar, who returns to the quarterfinals of the Libertadores 9 years later, converted all his shots, while in the fifth and last for Paranaense, center-back Thiago Heleno crashed his shot off the crossbar.

In the 90 minutes, the veteran Fernandinho and the young Vitor Roque made it 2-0 for Furaçao.

Tuesday night could have been round for Brazilian soccer, because earlier in Rio de Janeiro Fluminense, finalist of the Libertadores-2008, advanced to the quarterfinals with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Argentinos juniors.

Samuel Xavier, at 86 minutes, and John Kennedy, in a deadly counterattack at 90+7, took care of the goals for the ‘Flu’.

The Brazilians, who got a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week in Buenos Aires, will clash in the quarterfinals with the winner of the series between Olimpia and Flamengo, who meet on Thursday in Asunción and with a 1-0 lead for the defending champion.