Copa Libertadores 2025 Last 16 Preview As South American Clubs Rejoin Road To Lima | OneFootball

After what feels like an age since the group stages wrapped up, the Copa Libertadores returns this week with a set of fascinating last-16 ties as the knockout stages get underway.

The conclusion of the groups saw six Brazilian sides, four from Argentina, two from Paraguay, and one each from Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and Uruguay, all booking their place in the competition’s next round.

This year’s final will be played in Lima, the capital of Peru, and the big question is: will Brazilian dominance continue, or will one of the other nations spring a surprise? The next couple of months promise plenty of drama in South America’s most prestigious club competition.

Atlético Nacional v São Paulo

Hernán Crespo has replaced the sacked Luis Zubeldía, the man who guided São Paulo into the next round of the Copa Libertadores, but whose league form was deemed unacceptable. Since taking charge, Crespo has made an impressive start, guiding the club to four straight league victories. The only setback came in the cup — a 2-0 loss to Athletico Paranaense followed by penalty shootout heartbreak. Could that early exit prove a blessing in disguise, freeing São Paulo to focus fully on their pursuit of an elusive Copa Libertadores crown? They meet Colombian giants Atlético Nacional, two-time winners of the competition, in what promises to be a compelling tie.

Atlético Nacional are two-time Copa Libertadores champions, having won the title in 1989 and 2016. The Colombian side booked their place in the knockouts by finishing second in a tricky group alongside Internacional, Bahia, and Nacional. Their campaign has already featured wins over Brazilian sides on home soil, as they saw off Internacional and Bahia. However, success in Brazil has so far eluded them, and their hopes of progressing could rest heavily on making the most of their home advantage in this tie. The last time Atlético Nacional reached the knockouts was back in 2023, were they suffered a 5-4 aggregate loss in a thriller.

Botafogo v LDU Quito

The winner of that tie will face either Botafogo or LDU Quito of Ecuador. Botafogo enter the knockouts as defending Copa Libertadores champions, having lifted the trophy last season, and they’ll be aiming to repeat that triumph. They enjoyed a memorable Club World Cup run, defeating Seattle Sounders and Paris Saint-Germain before falling to fellow Brazilian side Palmeiras in the last 16. In this year’s Libertadores, they qualified by finishing second in a group alongside Estudiantes, Universidad de Chile, and Carabobo. Following the Club World Cup, despite defeating PSG, Renato Paiva was sacked and replaced by Davide Ancelotti, who has made a steady start to life in charge, losing only once at the time of writing.

LDU Quito are coached by Brazilian manager Tiago Nunes, who took charge in June of this year. The Ecuadorian side are one-time Copa Libertadores winners and lifted the Copa Sudamericana in 2023, giving them recent pedigree in continental competition. They booked their place in the last 16 by topping a group featuring Flamengo, Central Córdoba, and Deportivo Táchira.

The sides crossed paths in last year’s group stage, with home advantage proving decisive as each team claimed victory in their own backyard.

Universitario v Palmeiras

Universitario of Peru have reached the Copa Libertadores knockout stage for the first time since 2010, when they suffered penalty shoot-out heartbreak against São Paulo. This year, they secured qualification by finishing second in their group with eight points, battling alongside River Plate, Independiente del Valle, and Barcelona SC. It marks a significant milestone for the Peruvian giants, who will now be eager to make the most of their long-awaited return to the competition’s latter stages.

They take on three-time winners Palmeiras, who most recently won the competition back in 2021. Palmeiras were among the standout performers in the Copa Libertadores group stage, winning all six matches to collect a perfect 18 points. They netted 17 goals and conceded just four in a group featuring Cerro Porteño, Bolívar, and Sporting Cristal. Verdão also represented South America at the Club World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals before falling to eventual champions Chelsea. More recently, they suffered elimination from the Copa do Brasil last week, but that could prove a blessing in disguise, freeing them to fully focus on their league campaign and another push for continental glory.

On their way to Libertadores glory in 2021, Palmeiras enjoyed a 6-0 win on home soil, as well as a 3-2 victory in Lima. The winner of that tie will go on to face either Libertad Asunción or River Plate.

Libertad v River Plate

Libertad, champions of the Paraguayan Apertura in June with 44 points, head into the knockouts aiming to upset one of South America’s giants. They booked their Copa Libertadores last-16 spot by finishing second in a group with São Paulo, Alianza Lima, and Talleres Córdoba. In true Paraguayan fashion, Libertad’s campaign was built on defensive solidity, conceding just five goals in six games. With two wins, three draws, and only one defeat in the group stage, they’ve shown resilience and discipline, traits they’ll need in abundance if they are to topple River Plate.

River Plate are unbeaten in this season’s Copa Libertadores, collecting three wins and three draws in a group containing Universitario of Peru, Independiente del Valle, and Barcelona SC. Last year, they came agonisingly close to the final, only to fall 3-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals to Atlético Mineiro. This time around, Los Millonarios will be determined to go one step further, starting with their last-16 clash against Libertad. River also featured in the Club World Cup, although the four-time Libertadores winners had a fairly underwhelming performance, as they won one, drew one, and lost one to finish third in their group, failing to progress to the knockout stages.

The sides met in the group stage last year, with River Plate claiming victories both home and away against Libertad, a feat they’ll be eager to emulate in this knockout clash.

Fortaleza v Vélez Sarsfield

On the other half of the draw and kicking off the knockout stage action are Fortaleza and Vélez Sarsfield. Fortaleza’s league campaign has been hugely underwhelming, with the side currently sitting in the drop zone. Manager Juan Pablo Vojvoda was dismissed shortly after the Club World Cup, replaced by Renato Paiva, the man who guided Botafogo to a famous win over PSG. Despite their domestic struggles, Fortaleza managed to progress from the Copa Libertadores group stage, finishing second in a pool featuring Racing Club, Bucaramanga, and Colo Colo. They picked up eight points from two wins, two draws, and two defeats. However, a 3-0 home loss to Racing was a stark reminder that they’ll need to tighten up defensively if they’re to stand a chance of progressing in this knockout clash.

Vélez Sarsfield have enjoyed a solid Copa Libertadores campaign so far, topping a group that featured Peñarol, San Antonio Bulo Bulo, and Olimpia Asunción. They won three, drew two, and lost just once, collecting 11 points to finish first in the group. Now, they’ll be looking to carry that form into the knockout stages. The 1994 Copa Libertadores winners last featured in the knockout stages in 2022, where they reached the semi-finals before suffering a heavy 6-1 aggregate defeat to Flamengo.

The winner of that tie will go on to face either Peñarol of Uruguay or Racing Club of Argentina in the quarter-finals.

Peñarol v Racing

Peñarol were one of the surprise packages in last season’s Copa Libertadores, stunning Flamengo in the quarter-finals before bowing out to eventual champions Botafogo with a 6-3 aggregate defeat in the semi-final. This time around, the five-time Copa Libertadores winners booked their place in the knockouts by finishing second in a group featuring Vélez Sarsfield, San Antonio Bulo Bulo, and Olimpia Asunción. With that experience under their belt, Peñarol will be hoping to go one step further this year, reach the final, and give themselves a shot at continental glory.

Racing Club, last year’s Copa Sudamericana champions, will be aiming to replicate that continental success in the Libertadores. They topped their group with four wins, one draw, and one defeat, finishing ahead of Fortaleza, Bucaramanga, and Colo Colo. Their campaign included a blistering run of three straight wins, back-to-back 4-0 thrashings of Colo Colo and Bucaramanga. They also ran riot in Fortaleza with a 3-0 win on the road. They’ll be looking to carry that same ruthless form into the knockout stages.

In what is the only all-domestic affair, Flamengo and Internacional lock horns in a mouthwatering clash.

Flamengo v Internacional

Flamengo are one of the in-form sides in Brazil right now, sitting top of the league with 31 goals scored and just seven conceded at the time of writing. Given their current domestic dominance, they might quietly welcome the fact that their Copa Libertadores last-16 tie is an all-Brazilian affair. That said, they did suffer a setback in the Copa do Brasil last week, which could free up more time and focus for this competition.

Their path to the knockouts was a dramatic one. Paired with Deportivo Táchira, Central Córdoba, and LDU Quito, they advanced in second place only on goal difference after finishing level on 11 points with both LDU and Central Córdoba. Flamengo also flew the CONMEBOL flag at the Club World Cup, reaching the last-16 stage before falling 4-2 to Bayern Munich in a thrilling contest. That campaign still had its highlights, including wins over Chelsea and Espérance Tunis. Now, all eyes turn to South America’s biggest prize — a trophy they last lifted in 2022 after defeating Atlético Paranaense in Guayaquil.

Domestic form is something Internacional have struggled to find this season. At the time of writing, they sit 13th in the Brasileirão and will be eager to turn things around in the league. Their Copa Libertadores journey, however, has been far more encouraging. Inter topped a group featuring fellow Brazilian side Bahia, Colombia’s Atlético Nacional, and Nacional of Uruguay, winning three, drawing two, and losing just once to seal first place.

With their league campaign faltering and a recent exit from the Copa do Brasil still fresh, the Libertadores now represents their best shot at silverware this season. All focus will be on making a deep run, but they know a last-16 tie against Flamengo is a serious test. The Rio giants are flying domestically, so Inter will have to be at their very best to stand a chance of progressing.

Cerro Porteño v Estudiantes

This marks Cerro Porteño’s first knockout stage appearance since 2022, and they will be hoping for a much better outcome this time around. On that occasion, they suffered a heavy 8-0 aggregate defeat to Palmeiras. Their 2025 campaign began all the way back in the qualifying rounds, where they overcame Monagas of Venezuela and then Melgar of Peru, setting up a group stage with Bolívar, Palmeiras, and Sporting Cristal. In what proved to be a gruelling campaign, Cerro Porteño battled through to finish second in the group with two wins, one draw, and three defeats from six matches. They will be aiming to deliver a dogged defensive display and make the most of their chances if they are to progress from this tie.

Four-time Copa Libertadores winners Estudiantes last featured in the knockout stages in 2022, when they fell 1-0 on aggregate to Atlético Paranaense in the quarter-finals. They return this year after topping Group A with four wins and two defeats from their six matches, in a group that included holders Botafogo, Universidad de Chile, and Carabobo. Now, the Argentine giants will be looking to mount another strong run in South America’s top competition, with their eyes firmly set on a first Libertadores crown since 2009.

The last time these sides met was back in 2011 at this very stage, where Cerro Porteño progressed after a penalty shootout following two goalless draws. Fans will be hoping for a bit more entertainment this time around!