The major South American club competitions have reached the quarter-final stages and the last eight in the Copa Libertadores will not include the holders Botafogo, after they lost to LDU Quito.

Fogo had gone to Ecuador with a one goal lead but were soon pegged back before experienced Argentinian forward Lisandro Alzugaray converted the penalty that gave LDU a surprise 2-1 victory. 

Under the control of Brazilian Tiago Nunes, who counted Botafogo among his lengthy coaching credits, they’re through but will not find it any easier when they face Sao Paulo in the quarters.

Though Sao Paulo themselves had to negotiate a shootout to get past Colombian powerhouse Atletico Nacional with Portuguese defender Cedric Soares netting the decisive kick.

The Tricolor are joined by fellow Brazilians Flamengo and Palmeiras and those three will be the likely favourites to eventually lift the trophy (especially considering Brazilian teams have won the last six editions)

Flamengo edged out compatriots Inter via a 2-0 victory in Porte Alegre and Felipe Luis’ charges will be strongly fancied to get past Estudiantes despite having to visit La Plata for the second leg.

While Palmeiras, the title holders from 2020 and 2021, will meet the last team other than one from Brazil to claim the crown – Marcelo Gallardo’s River Plate.

That will be the obvious heavyweight encounter of the last eight.

And it will be the top seeded Verdao who many will favour, especially after River struggled to eliminate Paraguayans Libertad (on spot kicks)

The remaining quarter-final will be an all-Buenos Aires matchup between Velez Sarsfield and the 2024 Copa Sudamericana winners, Racing. 

That tie could fall either way, although La Academia might have the edge in staging the second leg at El Cilindro.

Unless one of the Buenos Aires contenders, or less likely, LDU Quito, can find a way it seems likely a Brazilian team will once again come out on top in Lima at the end of November.

Perhaps a similar outcome could prevail in the Copa Sudamericana quarters where Atletico Mineiro (2024 Libertadores finalists) and Fluminense (2023 Libertadores winners) will be expected to beat Bolivar and Lanus respectively.

However, there is a special incentive for the Bolivians as the final will be staged in their own country, albeit at the lower altitude of Santa Cruz. 

In the other last eight matches twice winners Independiente del Valle face Colombia’s Once Caldas with the Ecuadorians considered more likely to progress.

And, sadly, Alianza Lima do not yet know who they will play after serious violence at the Independiente v U de Chile second leg caused that match to be abandoned.

CONMEBOL will have to make a judgement as to the, inevitable, sanctions that will apply (plus deciding who, if anyone, Alianza will meet)

Analysis – John Bethell