Copa Libertadores: can the leaders hold their ground?
A busy South American matchday left all eight groups poised for a final round in which the standings still leave room for movement.
Can the leaders turn a crowded Copa Libertadores table into safe passage?
The sharpest result came on 22 April, when Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors won 2-1 at Colo Colo. That lifted them to second in Group B on 10 points, behind Club Atlético Colón de Santa Fe, whose 1-0 home victory over Club Sporting Cristal S.A. took them to 15. Colo Colo remain on zero. Club Atlético Independiente made an emphatic statement in Group G, beating Club Bolívar 3-0; they lead on 13, five ahead of Club Atlético Peñarol, who beat Deportivo La Guaira 3-1.
Club Olimpia also strengthened their hold on Group F with a 2-0 win over Audax Italiano, reaching 15 points. Club Atlético River Plate beat JUV 2-1 and sit second on nine. In Group H, Club Atlético Boca Juniors defeated Universidad de Chile 2-0 to reach 15, while BPB beat Atlético Mineiro 2-1. Universidad and BPB are level on five behind Boca.
The other results kept the tables tight. Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield beat Defensor Sporting Club 3-1 and lead Group A on nine, level with Defensor; Football Club Melgar’s 1-0 win at Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito leaves both Quito clubs on six. In Group C, SPT and Asociación Deportivo Cali drew 2-2, both reaching 10, while Club Libertad’s 1-0 win at Club Real Potosí brought them to nine. São Paulo Futebol Clube beat Club Nacional de Football 1-0 in a three-way Group D tie at eight points, with Club Independiente del Valle, who won 2-0 at Zamora Fútbol Club, also on eight. Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras and Club Ferro Carril Oeste drew 0-0; Palmeiras lead Group E on 11, one ahead of Club Deportes Tolima S.A., 3-1 winners at Club Cerro Porteño.
There is no settled picture across the continent yet.