The opening leg of the Copa Libertadores 2024 Round of 16 is set to begin this week, kicking off on Tuesday, August 13. The return leg will occur the following week, with the aggregate result deciding the winner. Both teams will have the opportunity to play on their home grounds, and if the aggregate scores are tied after the two legs, the winner will be determined by a penalty shootout.
Among the eight fixtures, many are anticipated to be tightly contested, while a few may result in lopsided victories. Here’s an overview of the pairings along with some predictions.
Grêmio Vs Fluminense (August 13 & 20)
Grêmio, seeded twelfth, will face the fourth-seeded Fluminense in an all-Brazilian showdown. Despite their lower seeding in this year’s Libertadores, Grêmio are favored due to their historical performance. In their recent head-to-head clashes, Grêmio have emerged victorious in 8 out of the last 11 encounters, compared to just 2 wins for Fluminense.
Nonetheless, most of these duels have been closely contested, often decided by a single goal. This matchup is expected to be another nail-biter, with Grêmio likely edging out a win.
San Lorenzo Vs Atlético Mineiro (August 13 & 20)
In another intriguing match, Argentina’s San Lorenzo is set to compete against Brazil’s Atlético Mineiro. This contest is anticipated to be one of the closest in the Round of 16. Both sides have been in good form recently, with Atlético Mineiro particularly impressive, winning 3 of their last 5 games.
The two teams have rarely faced each other, with only 2 meetings in the past 7 years. San Lorenzo has won one of those matches, while the other ended in a draw.
We anticipate that Atletico Mineiro’s impressive form will propel them into the quarter-finals.
Colo-Colo Vs Junior (August 13 & 20)
Colo-Colo, although the lowest-ranked team in the last 16, has been performing remarkably well, securing victories in four of their last five matches. In contrast, Junior has managed only one win in their past five games, suffering two losses and drawing twice. This trend places the Chilean squad in a strong position to advance to the next round.
Talleres Vs River Plate (August 14 & 21)
In an all-Argentinian encounter, top-seeded River Plate are heavily favored. Forward M. Borja has been outstanding, tallying 5 goals and 2 assists in the tournament so far. His presence is expected to be a significant factor, potentially leading to a decisive victory for River Plate in this Round of 16 clash.
Nacional Vs Sao Paulo (August 15 & 22)
The Nacional versus Sao Paulo matchup is another that could go either way. Nacional hasn’t had a stellar tournament, ending in 13th place, while Sao Paulo secured the 5th spot. This positions the Brazilian team with a slight advantage, which might just be enough to secure a win in this round.
The history between these teams is sparse, having last faced off in 2016 when Nacional emerged victorious with a 2-1 score.
Flamengo Vs Bolivia Bolívar (August 15 & 22)
These teams had a showdown earlier in April of this year, with Bolivar clinching a 2-1 win.
The match took place at Estadio Hernando Siles, giving Bolivar the home advantage, but this may shift when they face off on the road.
Despite Flamengo being strong favorites for this Round of 16 clash, it’s worth noting their recent form has dipped with two consecutive losses. Conversely, Bolivar enters the series riding the momentum of three victories.
