Eye on Libertadores! Vasco's five possible Sul-Americana rivals | OneFootball

Vasco finished the Copa Sudamericana group stage in second place in Group G with 10 points and now awaits the outcome of the Copa Libertadores to learn its playoff opponent. Unlike the later rounds, the international playoff matchups are not decided by draw and are instead defined by the overall standings of the two competitions.

Conmebol regulations state that the best second-placed team in the Sudamericana faces the worst third-placed team in the Copa Libertadores, and so on until all matchups are set. As the Rio club ended its campaign with a positive goal difference of four, the team will decide its place in the round of 16 by playing the second leg at São Januário.

The main scenario currently points to Independiente Medellín of Colombia as the most likely opponent for the São Januário club. The Colombian side finished third in its Copa Libertadores group — just behind rivals Flamengo — and would be on Vasco’s path if Cerro Porteño beat Sporting Cristal on Thursday night (28). If that match ends in a draw in Paraguay, Vasco would instead face Sporting Cristal, which is still fighting Palmeiras for direct qualification.

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Scenarios for Vasco in the Sudamericana

The mathematical combinations for the final round of the group stage leave room for three other traditional continental opponents in Vasco’s outlook. If Sporting Cristal wins its match, Vasco will face Nacional of Uruguay, which finished third in the group led by Coquimbo Unido and Tolima. In two scenarios considered unlikely, the Rio side could face Boca Juniors if the Argentines suffer a historic thrashing at La Bombonera, or Palmeiras if already-eliminated Junior Barranquilla routs the São Paulo club by four goals.

The official confirmation of who will cross Vasco’s path will come on Friday night, after the final matches in Libertadores Groups D and F are completed. The coaching staff is monitoring the results to map out logistics and begin performance analysis of the possible South American rivals. Football director Admar Lopes knows that success in the knockout stage would provide the political backing needed to ease pressure from organized supporter groups in case of inconsistency on the domestic front.

Dates and decisions at São Januário

Conmebol has already set aside the July calendar for the two-legged Copa Sudamericana knockout ties. Vasco’s first match will take place away from Rio de Janeiro on July 21, 22, or 23, while the decisive second leg at the Historic Hill is scheduled for the nights of July 28, 29, or 30.

The break period due to the 2026 World Cup will allow coach Renato Gaúcho to physically recover the starting players and introduce new tactical variations to the main squad.

Vasco secured qualification for the Sudamericana playoff – Photo: Alexandre Durão/Zimel Press/Folhapress

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