Copa Sudamericana draw defines group stage

This Monday, CONMEBOL drew the groups for the group stage of the 2023 Copa Sudamericana, in Luque, Paraguay. Among the 32 participants in this stage, seven are Brazilian: São Paulo, Santos, América-MG, Botafogo, Goiás, Red Bull Bragantino and Fortaleza.

Each team will play six games in the group stage, three at home and three away. In this stage, the two best teams advance. The first placed will go directly to the round of 16, while the second placed will duel with the third placed of the Libertadores groups.

São Paulo will not have a hard time qualifying. Chance, however, weighs in favor of the tricolor club. There are those who say that a “curse” has been haunting Morumbi since the final of the Sudamericana, against Tigre, in which the match did not end after the rival refused to play. Now, São Paulo is reunited with the Argentines and can make a fight. Deportes Tolima should be the main rival of the group and Puerto Cabello, the weakest.

Santos, on the other hand, will not have to face the altitude. Blooming is from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, which has a similar altitude to São Paulo. Newells Old Boys will be Santos’ main rival in the fight for leadership of Group E.

Botafogo, Red Bull Bragantino, Fortaleza and Goiás shouldn’t have difficulties to advance, but America-MG fans will suffer with the group of death. Vagner Mancini’s men will face the traditional Peñarol and Millonarios and one of the new South American forces, Defensa y Justicia.

The champion of the 2023 Copa Sudamericana will guarantee a place in the next edition of the Libertadores, qualifying directly for the group stage. The final of the tournament is scheduled for Montevideo, capital of Uruguay, on October 28th.

The opening round of the group stage takes place next week, between April 4th and 6th. In the next few hours, Conmebol, alongside the broadcasters that own the broadcasting rights, will define dates and times for all games in this stage.

SOUTH AMERICAN GROUPS