New thread for Sulamericana following the draw. Matches start in April. Grupo A Defensa Y Justicia (ARG) Independiente Medellin (COL) César Vallejo (PER) Alianza Petrolera (COL) Grupo B Cruzeiro Union La Calera (CHI) Universidad Católica (EQU) Always Ready (BOL) Grupo C Internacional Delfin (EQU) Belgrano (ARG) Royal Tomayapo (BOL) Grupo D Boca Juniors (ARG) Fortaleza Nacional Potosí (BOL) Sportivo Trinidense (PAR) Grupo E Athletico Danubio (URU) Sportivo Ameliano (PAR) Rayo Zuliano (VEN) Grupo F Corinthians Argentinos Juniors (ARG) Racing Montevideo (URU) Nacional (PAR) Grupo G Lanús (ARG) Metropolitanos (VEN) Cuiabá Deportivo Garcilaso (PER) Grupo H Racing (ARG) Coquimbo Unido (CHI) Sportivo Luqueño (PAR) Bragantino
Inter started their campaign with a 0x0 draw. Haven't watched highlights, but there is one missed chance that is already being shared as it was an open goal that Inter should have scored on. Corinthians also tied, 1x1 with Racing (Uruguay). Athletico-PR though had a huge away win, 4x1 over Sportivo Ameliano (Paraguay) to start their campaign off right.
Three more Brazilian clubs played today. Cuiabá drew Lanús at home, 1x1 Bragantino at home beat Coquimbo Unido 1x0 and in the best result, Fortaleza went to Deportivo Trinidense and won 2x0
Cruzeiro got a 0x0 draw at Universidad Católica (of Ecuador) to close out the week for Brazilian in continental matches.
Athletico-PR got a huge 6x0 home win over Rayo Zuliano (sounds like a World of Warcraft name) Corinthians also with a goleada at home 4x0 over Nacional (Paraguay)
Corinthians took first place in Group F tonight. Bragantino are wrapping up second in Group H. Later this week: Cruzeiro (2nd) are already qualified and play Catolica (1st) in a direct confrontation for first place. Fortaleza are in first and can confirm first with a win over Trinidense, the worst team in the group. Athletico-PR are in first and play second-place Ameliano to keep their first place finish. Cuiaba will finish second no matter the results of their final day. That means those 6 Brazilian teams are qualified. The last one, Inter, has had 2 matches postponed due to the floods. Tonight they played what would normally be the final match of the group. They lost to Belgrano, who confirmed first place. Inter play Tomayapo on June 4 in a game that is mostly about goal difference. If they win by a lot, they will go into the last postponed match with a better goal difference and can play for the draw. If not, they will hve to beat Delfin on June 8 and make up the goal difference.
Inter won their postponed match today. They are tied with Delfin for second, but Delfin have the tiebreaker. They have to beat Delfin on Saturday to qualify in second place and go to the playoff against a third placed Libertadores team.
Inter won today, to qualify. They take second place and will play off against a 3rd placed Libertadores team. The Sulamericana playoffs are now set: Barcelona x Bragantino Cerro Porteno x Athletico-PR Palestino x Cuiaba Libertad x Universidad Catolica Independiente del Valle x Boca Juniors LDU Quito x Always Ready Rosario Central x Inter Huachipato x Racing I think the most interesting match there is IDV x Boca. Will the juice take down an Argentinian giant? I think they're mostly just a boogeyman to Brazilian teams, but it's a tough match-up. Matches are in July, the two weeks following the Copa America final.
Inter are the first team eliminated. They drew Rosario Central at home today, after losing 1x0 last weekend. Bragantino, Cuiabá and Athletico-PR all play at home later this week. All of them are tied 1x1 with their opponents after the first match.