Fluminense, Santos and São Paulo lose games and postpone qualifying for the round of 16. Palmeiras is the only one with life defined in the continental competition
It was a difficult night for the Brazilians in the Copa Libertadores. The four teams that went to the field were defeated and some got involved to advance to the round of 16 of the competition, as in the case of Fluminense and Santos. São Paulo, despite the defeat, still plays for a draw in the last round, but if they want the leadership of Group E, they will also need to root for a stumbling from Racing (ARG).
Those who remain calm despite the defeat at home to Defensa y Justicia (ARG) are Palmeiras. The two teams played a game full of goals. At Allianz Parque, the Argentines took the best and won by 4 to 3. As Palmeiras were already classified and with the first place guaranteed, the team went to the field with the reserve team, since next Thursday has the first game of the Paulista Championship final against São Paulo. Verdão’s goals were scored by Willian, Zé Rafael and Gustavo Scarpa. The visitors stamped the networks with Matías Rodrigues, Walter Bou (twice) and Braian Romero. The victory ensured the second place and the classification for the round of 16 of Defensa y Justicia, since in the other game of Group A, Universitário (PER) defeated Independiente Del Valle (EQU) and removed the classification possibilities of the Argentines. Therefore, Group A is already defined with a round in advance, with Palmeiras and Defensa y Justicia already classified for the octaves.
At La Paz altitude, Santos was defeated 2-1 by The Strongest (BOL) and got involved in Group C. Willie and Reinoso scored for the Bolivians. On the side of the fish, Felipe Jonatan decreased. The owners of the house still had Castillo expelled. The team reached six points, the same score as Santos, in second place. With six points from five games, Santos kept the group’s second place on account of the goal scored. If he had lost by two goals difference, he would have fallen to third place. Now, to know what needs to be done in the last round, the village team needs to wait for the result of Boca Junior (ARG) and Barcelona de Guayaquil, who play this Thursday. With the victory, The Strongest kept the hope of qualification alive, even in the flashlight. The team now has six points.
Like Palmeiras, São Paulo also went on the field with reservations thinking about the Paulista Championship final. At Morumbi, the team ended up being defeated by Racing (ARG) and fell to second place. Although the classification is well underway, the tricolor is not yet guaranteed. Novillo scored the only goal of the match. The victory took Racing to 11 points and stamped the team to eighth. Now the Argentines lead Group E with 11 points, while São Paulo has eight and with little chance of qualifying as first in the group. Today, Rentistas (URU) and Sporting Cristal (PER) face off in Lima. If the Peruvians win, the São Paulo tricolor already guarantees the classification before the last round. Rentistas is the third placed with three points, while Sporting is the lantern with only one.
Another defeated Brazilian of the night was Fluminense, who lost 2-1 at Maracanã to Junior Barranquilla (COL). Valencia and Cetré scored for the visitors and on the tricolor side, Abel Hernandéz discounted. A draw was enough for Fluminense to confirm the classification, against a very weak Junior. Despite the setback, the Laranjeiras team still leads group D with eight points. River Plate (ARG), with six points, is the only one who can take the leadership of Fluminense in this round, but it is very unlikely to happen. The team had an outbreak of Covid-19 in the squad and has only 11 players with playing conditions, with no goalkeeper, for the match against Santa Fé (COL), in Argentina. Junior Barranquilla reached six points, while Santa Fé, with two, can return to the fight to qualify at home for victory over the River.
