After three rounds of the group stage of the 2026 edition of the Copa Libertadores it is evident some of the groups are already being dominated by the favourites (except one), while others are far tighter.
The holders, Flamengo, are unbeaten in Group A and with two home games still to play, including against minnows Cusco, look well on course to progress.
Similarly their rivals for the title of best supported team in Brazil, Corinthians, are dominant in Group E with a 100% record to date.
In Group C is the only other side with a perfect campaign, and that is surprise package Independiente Rivadavia. The team from Mendoza, under coach Alfredo Berti, qualified by winning the 2025 Copa Argentina but have no history in continental competitions. Their victory in the Maracana against Fluminense was one of the shocks of the event so far.
Group H is currently in the hands of Rosario Central and Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle (dual champions of the Copa Sudamericana)
But the all other four groups are extremely tight, with a four-way tie in ‘B’ including Uruguay’s Nacional and Universitario from Peru, an interesting battle in ‘D’ between Boca Juniors, U Catolica and Cruzeiro, something similar in ‘G’, and in ‘F’ where past winners Palmeiras are presently second behind Sporting Cristal.
The group action will conclude at the end of May when sixteen teams will progress to the final knockout rounds - they will commence in August, after the World Cup.
Having won the last seven editions, it is the Brazilian heavyweights, led by Flamengo, plus Palmeiras, Corinthians and Argentina’s Boca who are considered the favourites to claim the trophy in Montevideo at the end of November.
Analysis - John Bethell