“A clean sweep of away wins”
The Copa Libertadores’ latest 16-match cycle brought emphatic victories for Independiente and away wins for River Plate, Boca Juniors and Universidad de Chile.
“The away sides set the terms.” Across 16 Copa Libertadores matches since the previous cycle, visitors won eight times, with Club Atlético Independiente’s 3-0 victory at Club Bolívar the clearest statement. Club Atlético River Plate, Club Atlético Boca Juniors and Universidad de Chile also claimed away wins on Friday, while the round’s four other matches ended level or went to home teams.
Independiente’s three-goal margin was the widest of the cycle. On Wednesday, Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors beat Colo Colo 2-0, and Club Atlético Colón de Santa Fe won 2-0 at Club Sporting Cristal S.A. Defensor Sporting Club edged Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield 2-1. Football Club Melgar beat Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito 1-0 on the same day.
Thursday brought a 2-0 win for Club Deportes Tolima S.A. over Club Cerro Porteño and a 1-0 victory for Club Libertad against Club Real Potosí. Club Independiente del Valle and Zamora Fútbol Club drew 0-0; Club Ferro Carril Oeste and Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras shared a 1-1 draw, as did Club Nacional de Football and São Paulo Futebol Clube.
On Friday, River Plate won 2-0 at JUV and Boca Juniors prevailed 2-1 at BPB. Universidad de Chile beat Atlético Mineiro 2-0. Club Olimpia took a 1-0 win at Audax Italiano, while Deportivo La Guaira and Club Atlético Peñarol drew 1-1. Asociación Deportivo Cali beat SPT 2-1.
The results give the next matchday a broad spread of outcomes, rather than a single runaway story. The group and league-phase tables are not supplied, so the precise stakes for each side’s next fixture remain unstated. What this round does establish is the value of travelling well: several of the competition’s most prominent names left with wins, and Independiente returned with the most convincing scoreline.