So it started early this year, and the best club tournament in the world is already at group stage! There were great matches already in the playoffs, with the traditional Libertadores atmosphere, and already great stories, like the one surrounding the match between Atlético Tucumán and El Nacional, and we expect it to only get better from now on.
This is also the first edition with the new rules, which apparently are inspired on the european Champions League. Now it stretches from February to November, having 42 weeks instead of 27, and has more teams (and no mexicans anymore). Another new thing is that 10 teams eliminated in the group stage (third places) and playoffs (the two best) will be transfered to Copa Sudamericana. I'm not a big fan of the changes, as I thought Libertadores was perfect as it was, and there are some restrictions that will surely make it worse (no flares and smoke is ridiculous). There was even talk of making the final a single match in a neutral stadium, a totally stupid move which would certainly kill the spirit of the Libertadores finals. Anyway, if you disagree, voice your opinion and let's discuss!
The teams:
Group 1
Atlético Nacional (COL)
Barcelona de Guayaquil (EQU)
Botafogo (BRA)
Estudiantes (ARG)
Group 2
Santa Fe (COL)
Santos (BRA)
Sporting Cristal (PER)
The Strongest (BOL)
Group 3
River Plate (ARG)
Emelec (EQU)
Independiente Medellín (COL)
Melgar (PER)
Group 4
Universidad Católica (CHI)
Atlético Paranaense (BRA)
Flamengo (BRA)
San Lorenzo (ARG)
Group 5
Peñarol (URU)
Jorge Wilstermann (BOL)
Palmeiras (BRA)
Atlético Tucumán (ARG)
Group 6
Atlético Mineiro (BRA)
Libertad (PAR)
Godoy Cruz (ARG)
Sport Boys (BOL)
Group 7
Nacional (URU)
Chapecoense (BRA)
Lanús (ARG)
Zulia (VEN)
Group 8
Guaraní (PAR)
Grêmio (BRA)
Zamora (VEN)
Deportes Iquique (CHI)
Who do you think will win?