Independiente face new Brazil test in Libertadores draw

Independiente face new Brazil test in Libertadores draw

The Argentinian club are in search of their eighth Copa Libertadores title.

Independiente
LUQUE: Argentinian giants Independiente will face another test against Brazilian opposition after being drawn against São Paulo side Corinthians in the group stage of the 2018 Copa Libertadores here Wednesday.

Independiente sealed their place in the Libertadores draw last week after lifting the Copa Sudamericana following a 3-2 aggregate victory over Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro.

The match, however, was overshadowed by violence before, during, and after the game, when Brazilian fans used fireworks to attack the team hotel where Independiente were staying.

Further violence flared during the second leg at the Maracanã Stadium, with fighting inside and outside of the iconic venue.

Independiente are the most successful side in Libertadores history with seven titles, although they have not won the prestigious club competition since 1984.

Another eye-catching Brazil-Argentina clash in the group stage will see Buenos Aires side River Plate, the three-time champions who won the tournament in 2015 face Flamengo in Group 4.

Group 5, meanwhile, will see Brazil’s Cruzeiro take on Argentina’s Racing Club.

Three-time Brazilian winners Santos also face Argentinian opposition in Group 6, where their opponents include four-time Libertadores champions Estudiantes.

Group 8 promises another clash of heavyweights with Argentina’s six-time winners Boca Juniors facing 1999 Libertadores champions Palmeiras.

Defending champions Grêmio of Brazil, meanwhile, will be favourites to progress from Group 1, where their opponents include Paraguay’s Cerro Porteño, Defensor Sporting of Uruguay, and Venezuela’s Monagas.

The opening preliminary round matches take place on January 22 with the final to be played over two legs on November 7 and 28.

 

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.