Conmebol confirms Libertadores prelim dates, Botafogo and Bahia to start in second round | OneFootball

According to Coluna Do Fla, Conmebol has confirmed dates and kick-off times for the Copa Libertadores preliminaries, which start in the first week of February.

Only four clubs will reach the group stage after three knockout rounds. Botafogo and Bahia enter in the second phase, so each must beat two opponents to join holders Flamengo, who begin in April.

First-round first legs are on 3-5 February at 21:30, with the return legs on 10-12 February at the same time.

The second phase features O’Higgins (CHI) v Bahia at 19:00 and Nacional Potosí (BOL) v Botafogo at 21:30 on 18 February. Other first legs across 17-18 February include Carabobo (VEN) v Huachipato (CHI), Liverpool (URU) v Independiente Medellín (COL), and Barcelona (EQU) v Argentinos Juniors (ARG).

On 19 February, Alianza Lima or 2 de Mayo meet Guaraní (PAR) at 19:00, then The Strongest (BOL) or Deportivo Táchira (VEN) face Deportes Tolima (COL) at 21:30. Second legs are the following week with reversed venues.

Play-off winners go into pot 4. Holders Flamengo are in pot 1 and could face any of them, including Brazilian teams. Clubs from the same country in pots 2 and 3 cannot be drawn with Flamengo. The group-stage draw is on 18 March in Luque, Paraguay, and Flamengo play in the week of 7 April. Champions in 1981, 2019, 2022 and 2025, they are chasing a fifth title, and already have the most among Brazilian clubs, with Independiente on seven.

Source: Coluna Do Fla