Draw quirks: Benedetto v Boca, Neymar at Gasómetro, Racing’s fake derby | OneFootball

This week, the groups for both the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana were announced, featuring a series of peculiar matchups that did not go unnoticed.

This Thursday, the draws for the 2026 Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana took place, the two international tournaments organized by Conmebol that captivate an entire continent. After each group was revealed, interesting storylines quickly emerged among the drawn rivals, with old acquaintances meeting again, a “clásico,” and much more.

Boca was drawn into Group D of the Copa Libertadores, and in each of its rivals, it will face a familiar face—either someone who once wore their jersey or acted as their nemesis in previous encounters. They will face Darío “Pipa” Benedetto again, who had a great first stint and a controversial second spell that led to his departure from the club in 2024. In this transfer window, he joined Barcelona de Guayaquil.

Darío Benedetto, striker and top scorer for Barcelona de Guayaquil, Boca’s opponent in the Copa Libertadores. (Enrique Gonzalez/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) On social media, there was great astonishment at the new clash with Cruzeiro, as it means facing the legendary goalkeeper Cassio, a historic tormentor for the Club de la Ribera: during his time at Corinthians, he eliminated the Xeneize twice (in the 2012 Copa Libertadores final and the round of 16 in the 2022 edition), and with Cruzeiro, he also knocked out the Blue and Gold team (round of 16 of the 2024 Copa Sudamericana). A true bogeyman who will return to Brandsen 805.

Cassio, the historic nemesis who will face Boca once again.

Universidad Católica will also be a rival of Boca, which means facing Gary Medel. The Chilean had a great spell with the Xeneize in 2010 but fell short of expectations when he returned in 2024—a lackluster stint that lasted only six months before he went back to the Cruzado.

Gary Medel, captain of Universidad Católica, Boca’s opponent in the Copa Libertadores.

The Copa Sudamericana also brought some interesting storylines, as Neymar Jr. will have to play club football in Argentina again after 14 years. Santos will face San Lorenzo, meaning the all-time top scorer for the Brazil national team will have to visit the Gauchos de Boedo at the Nuevo Gasómetro. His only previous appearance dates back to the Peixe’s match against Vélez in the group stage of the 2012 Copa Libertadores, a 1-0 win for El Fortín remembered for Gino Peruzzi’s tight marking.

Racing faces a tough group in the Copa Sudamericana, which includes a “clásico” against Independiente Petrolero, a Bolivian side that advanced from Phase 1. While it’s not the Avellaneda “Rojo,” the Sucre squad brings a trump card: they play at 2,815 meters above sea level, a headache for La Academia when they have to visit the Olímpico Patria stadium.

Independiente Petrolero, the “clásico” rival that Racing will face in the Copa Sudamericana.

The Copa Libertadores rarely features repeated matchups from one group stage to another, but this time it happened, and it’s a clash that has occurred for the fifth time in less than ten years: once again, Palmeiras and Cerro Porteño will face off. In the 2018 and 2022 editions, they were drawn together for the round of 16, and they met in the group stage in 2023 and 2025. The record clearly favors Verdao, who have won seven of the eight games, while the Ciclón de Barrio Obrero has managed just a single victory during this curious string of encounters.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.