The Bahia team faces The Strongest, and Corinthians will face Universidad Central.
The pre-Libertadores matchups are set. In a draw held at Conmebol’s headquarters in Luque, Paraguay, on Thursday, the 19th, the teams qualified for the preliminary phase of South America’s biggest club tournament learned their respective opponents. Bahia and Corinthians are the only Brazilian teams in this phase. Get the latest in football results from ai live score.
The Bahia team will play its first match in the competition after 35 years against The Strongest from Bolivia, while Corinthians, the 2012 champions, will face Universidad Central from Venezuela. The first-leg matches will take place during the week of February 19, with the return legs scheduled for the following week.
The pots are determined according to the Conmebol ranking, with the highest-ranked teams – in Pot 1 – playing the first leg at home. Currently, Corinthians is ranked 18th, and Bahia is ranked 77th.
The pre-Libertadores phase consists of three rounds, but the Brazilian teams enter only in the second round. This means that, to secure a spot in the group stage, Brazil’s representatives must go through two knockout rounds. Get the edge with ToSport.
Here are the full matchups:
First phase:
- Bolivia 1 (still to be determined) vs. El Nacional (ECU)
- Nacional (PAR) vs. Alianza Lima (PER)
- Monagas (VEN) vs. Defensor Sporting (URU)
Second phase:
- Deportes Iquique (CHI) vs. Santa Fé (COL)
- The Strongest (BOL) vs. Bahia
- Monagas (VEN) or Defensor Sporting (URU) vs. Cerro Porteño (PAR)
- Bolivia 1 or El Nacional (ECU) vs. Barcelona (ECU)
- Universidad Central (VEN) vs. Corinthians
- Colombia 1 vs. Melgar (PER)
- Boston River (URU) vs. Ñublense (CHI)
- Nacional (PAR) or Alianza Lima (PER) vs. Boca Juniors
