3rd Round of Libertadores 2024

The 3rd round of the Libertadores featured epic matches, turnarounds, and plenty of goals.

Come along to see how the matches unfolded and how the teams performed on the field.

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Libertadores 2024

Group A

Cerro Porteño 0-0 Fluminense

In a match with little inspiration, Fluminense and Cerro Porteño drew without goals at the Nueva Olla Stadium.

The bad news for the Fluminense fans was André’s injury, at the 43rd minute of the first half. The midfielder left the field crying and is a concern for the rest of the season. Tests in the locker room indicate a possible knee ligament injury, and further examinations will determine the severity.

Fluminense leads the group with 5 points, while Cerro Porteño is third with 4 points.

Photo: Christian Alvarenga/Getty Images

Colo-Colo 0-0 Alianza Lima

Colo-Colo only managed a draw with Alianza Lima at the Monumental David Arellano Stadium, missing the chance to move to the top of the group.

Despite dominating the match, with over 70% of ball possession, the Chileans couldn’t break through the Peruvian defense.

Group B

Barcelona SC 0-2 São Paulo

In Luis Zubeldía’s debut as coach, São Paulo secured an extremely important victory against Barcelona in Guayaquil.

São Paulo started the match without being intimidated, even playing away from home, and opened the scoring with Calleri at 17 minutes, on a great cross from Ferreirinha.

In the second half, Barcelona pressed, created opportunities, but was stopped by an inspired performance from goalkeeper Rafael.

At the 19th minute of the second half, Alisson took advantage of a clumsy clearance by goalkeeper Burrai after a corner kick and scored São Paulo’s second goal.

São Paulo sits in second place in the group with 6 points, while Barcelona is in third with 2 points.

Photo: Conmebol

Cobresal 0-2 Talleres

Talleres maintained their good form and comfortably defeated Cobresal at the “Zorros del Desierto” Municipal Stadium.

The game was decided in the first half, with goals from Kevin Mantilla and Ramón Sosa.

Talleres tops the group with 7 points. Cobresal, on the other hand, is at the bottom with only 1 point.

Group C

Estudiantes 0-1 Grêmio

Grêmio achieved an epic victory against Estudiantes in La Plata and remains alive in the Libertadores.

Grêmio had lost the previous two matches and was fighting for survival in the competition. In the most challenging match, Grêmio saw everything could collapse at the 21st minute of the second half when Villasanti was sent off.

Renato Gaúcho was brave and brought on youngsters Gustavo Nunes and Nathan Fernandes. Relief for Grêmio came at the 30th minute of the second half when Nathan Fernandes started a quick counter-attack and found Gustavo Nunes free on the left. The winger advanced swiftly, passed the defender, and crossed for Nathan Fernandes to score.

At the 38th minute, Carrillo deflected a low shot and equalized the match, but after VAR review, the goal was disallowed because the forward was in an offside position.

Grêmio held off Estudiantes’ pressure and earned their first points in the Libertadores.

Grêmio is still at the bottom of the group with 3 points, while Estudiantes is in third place with 4 points.

Photo: ALEJANDRO PAGNI / AFP

Huachipato 0-0 The Strongest

Huachipato missed the chance to take the lead and only drew with The Strongest at the CAP Stadium.

The Chileans dominated the game, pressed, but couldn’t break the Bolivian defense.

With the draw, Huachipato remains at the top of the group with 5 points, while The Strongest is in second place with 4 points.

Group D

Junior 1-1 LDU

Junior Barranquilla drew with LDU, leaving Group D wide open, with any team having a chance of qualification.

Despite opening the scoring early in the match, at 12 minutes with a penalty goal from Carlos Bacca, Junior retreated and gave LDU many opportunities, who created several chances.

LDU equalized in the first half, at 45 minutes, also from a penalty, with Alex Arce.

With the draw, both teams are at the top of the group. Junior leads with 5 points, and LDU follows with 4 points.

Botafogo 3-1 Universitario

In Artur Jorge’s debut as coach in the Libertadores, Botafogo played well and comfortably defeated Universitario at the Nilton Santos Stadium.

Near the end of the first half, Libertadores’ top scorer, Júnior Santos, made a beautiful individual play and passed to Eduardo in the penalty area, who scored freely.

At the 12th minute of the second half, Luiz Henrique faced the goalkeeper, made a spectacular dribble, and scored Botafogo’s second goal.

In injury time, Mateo Ponte stole the ball on the right and passed to Eduardo to score his second goal of the match.

Finally, Universitario managed to score a consolation goal with Olivares in the last minute.

Botafogo achieved an essential victory, keeping their hopes of qualification alive, despite being at the bottom of the group with 3 points. Universitario is in third place with 4 points.

Photo: Jorge Rodrigues/Agif

Group E

Bolívar 2-1 Flamengo

Bolívar secured their third victory and maintained a 100% record. Flamengo rested many starters and traveled to Bolivia with a mixed team, losing their unbeaten run since the start of the season.

The start of the game was electrifying. In the first minute, Bruno Sávio dribbled past Viña and crossed perfectly for Chico da Costa to score his fourth goal in the Libertadores.

At 4 minutes, Gerson escaped a foul and passed to Viña, who dribbled past the defender and scored to equalize the match.

Flamengo felt the altitude of the 3600-meter Hernando Siles Stadium and lost strength in the game. At the 17th minute of the second half, Bolívar worked the ball well, Saucedo passed to Bruno Sávio in the area, who crossed and scored Bolívar’s winning goal.

Bolívar leads the group with 9 points, while Flamengo is in second place with 4 points.

Photo: Conmebol

Palestino 3-1 Millonarios

Palestino defeated Millonarios and earned their first points in the Libertadores.

Felipe Chamorro, twice, and Véjar scored for the Chileans. Leonardo Castro scored Millonarios’ goal.

Palestino is third in the group with 3 points, while Millonarios is at the bottom with 1 point.

Group F

Independiente Del Valle 2-3 Palmeiras

Palmeiras achieved an epic comeback against Independiente Del Valle, scoring the winning goal at the 50th minute of the second half. Independiente Del Valle has only suffered 2 defeats at home in the Libertadores, both against Palmeiras.

The first half was dominated by the Ecuadorians, and Palmeiras had only 22.7% of ball possession, the lowest under Abel’s management.

Kendry Páez, the 16-year-old prodigy, opened the scoring at 12 minutes with a beautiful shot from outside the box.

At 38 minutes, Hoyos doubled the lead with a header.

In their first shot on target in the match, Endrick scored a header, after a cross from Rony, at the end of the first half.

For the second half, Palmeiras came back with a different attitude, pressing for a result that seemed lost.

At 36 minutes, Flaco López set up Lázaro for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who calmly scored to equalize the match.

The draw was already a great result for Palmeiras, given their performance in the first half, but Verdão achieved a spectacular victory, scoring in the last minute.

At 50 minutes, Luis Guilherme received the ball from Lázaro and shot into the bottom corner from outside the box, sending the Palmeiras fans into ecstasy.

Palmeiras tops the group with 7 points, followed by Independiente Del Valle with 4 points.

Photo: Rodrigo BUENDIA / AFP

Liverpool (URU) 1-0 San Lorenzo

Liverpool scored at the 50th minute of the second half, benefiting from a defensive mistake by San Lorenzo, and secured an important victory at home. Franco Nicola scored the only goal of the match.

Liverpool is third in the group with 4 points, while San Lorenzo is at the bottom with only 1 point.

Group G

Atlético-MG 3-2 Peñarol

Atlético made a sensational start to the match and took a 3-0 lead with 2 goals from Scarpa and 1 from Paulinho.

Peñarol recovered, reduced the deficit with goals from Maxi Oliveira and Maxi Silvera, hit the crossbar with a free-kick, but couldn’t equalize.

Atlético leads Group G with a 100% record. Peñarol is third with 3 points.

Photo: Pedro Souza / Atlético

Caracas 1-1 Rosario Central

Rosario Central could only manage a draw with Caracas and fell behind the group leaders Atlético-MG.

Pernía opened the scoring for the Venezuelans in the first half, and Módica equalized for the Argentines in the second half.

Caracas earned their first point in the current Libertadores and is at the bottom of Group G. Rosario is second with 4 points.

Group H

Libertad 1-2 River Plate

River Plate secured an important victory against Libertad and took the lead in Group H.

Solari opened the scoring, Espinoza equalized, and Mastantuono put River ahead.

River leads the group with 9 points, while Libertad is third with 3 points.

Photo: Reprodução: @RiverPlate

Nacional 2-1 Deportivo Táchira

Nacional settled the match before the 25th minute, with goals from Castro and Recoba.

Táchira pulled one back with a header from Díaz at the 30th minute but couldn’t avoid defeat.

Nacional is second with 6 points, while Táchira is last and has yet to score.

 

Written by Henry Miller.