Corinthians discover final group-stage rival in Women’s Libertadores | OneFootball

Corinthians already know who they will face to close out the group stage of the 2026 Women’s Copa Libertadores. Independiente Santa Fe of Colombia secured the berth reserved for the Colombian runner-up and will be the Brabas’ third opponent in Group A. The match is scheduled for October 21, a Wednesday, at 5 p.m. (Brasília time), at Banco Guayaquil Stadium in Ecuador.

When the groups for the continental competition were drawn on September 18, the identity of the last team in Corinthians’ group was still undefined. The regulations reserved the spot for the runner-up of the Colombian Championship, which at that time was still in its semifinal stage.

Photo: Staff Woman Conmebol Libertadores

Santa Fe secured a place in the national final after beating Millonarios. After a 2-2 draw in the first match, the team won the second leg 2-1 and advanced to face Deportivo Cali.

In the final, Independiente Santa Fe finished as runners-up. Deportivo Cali won both matches of the final and wrapped up the tie with a 7-4 aggregate score. The result confirmed Santa Fe as the missing representative in Libertadores Group A.

Corinthians hold the edge in their history against Santa Fe

The meeting in Ecuador will add another chapter to a matchup that has already earned an important place in the Brabas’ continental journey. Corinthians and Independiente Santa Fe have faced each other four times in the Women’s Copa Libertadores, with four wins for the black-and-whites.

The first came in 2017, in the last match of the first stage. On that occasion, Corinthians won 2-1, with Grazi scoring both of the team’s goals.

Four years later, the teams met again in an even more decisive setting. In the 2021 Libertadores final, Timão beat the Colombians 2-0, with goals from Vic Albuquerque and Gabi Portilho, and finished that edition of the competition unbeaten.

Santa Fe crossed Corinthians’ path again in another continental final, this time in 2024. The score was the same: a 2-0 win for the Brabas. Vic Albuquerque scored again against the Colombians, while Erika added the other goal that secured another Libertadores title for Corinthians.

The most recent clash came in the 2025 edition. Once again in the final round of the group stage, Corinthians won 1-0, with a goal from Gabi Zanotti.

As a result, the record before the 2026 meeting stands at four matches and four Corinthians wins, with seven goals scored and only one conceded. Two of those matches came in Libertadores finals, both won by the Brabas.

The Brabas’ path in the first stage

Before meeting Independiente Santa Fe again, Corinthians will have two other Group A matches.

The opener is scheduled for October 15, a Wednesday, against Colo-Colo of Chile. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. at Casa Blanca Stadium in Quito. Three days later, on October 18, a Sunday, the Brabas will face Caracas of Venezuela at 9 p.m., again at Casa Blanca Stadium. Their group-stage campaign will end against Santa Fe on the 21st.

Corinthians chasing another continental title

Corinthians head into the 2026 edition as the defending champions and the most successful club in the Women’s Copa Libertadores. The club has won six titles, in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

In addition to chasing a seventh continental title, the Brabas are looking to extend their recent winning run. If they lift the trophy again, it will be their fourth consecutive Libertadores title, following triumphs in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Before that, however, the team will first have to get through the group stage and will once again meet an opponent that has been present at important moments in its history in the tournament. Santa Fe, besides having contested two editions’ finals against Corinthians, will once again be the team that closes out the black-and-whites’ group-stage campaign.

Check out Corinthians’ group-stage matches:

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