This Thursday, Corinthians and Mirassol play their second-leg matches in the Libertadores Round of 16. Playing at home, Timão seeks to advance, while the team from São Paulo state faces the altitude.
The knockout stage of the Copa Libertadores de América intensifies. This Thursday, the continental competition features two decisive Round of 16 clashes, promising excitement and determining more qualifiers for the next stage. Brazilian teams, Corinthians and Mirassol, are on the field, vying for a spot in the quarter-finals.
The second-leg matches are crucial. Corinthians plays at home with the advantage of a goalless draw away from home, while Mirassol faces the challenge of Ecuadorian altitude after a draw at their home stadium. Expectations are high to see which teams will advance in the prestigious South American tournament.
Mirassol tackles altitude in pursuit of unprecedented qualification
The first match of the night kicks off at 7 PM BRT (Brasília Time), with Mirassol visiting LDU at Estádio Rodrigo Paz Delgado in Quito, Ecuador. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN and the streaming service Disney+. In the first leg, played in the interior of São Paulo state, the score ended 1-1, leaving the decision wide open.
The São Paulo-based team had opened the scoring with Eduardo, who finished after an assist from Edson Carioca. However, Michael Estrada of LDU equalized in the second half, capitalizing on a loose ball in the box. Mirassol comes into this challenge after a significant 5-1 defeat to Flamengo in the Brazilian Serie A. Meanwhile, a motivated LDU defeated Aucas 1-0 in their domestic league, playing at home.
Corinthians plays at home with offensive reinforcement
At 9:30 PM BRT, Neo Química Arena in São Paulo will host the clash between Corinthians and Rosario Central of Argentina. This decisive encounter will also be broadcast on ESPN and Disney+. The goalless draw in the first leg, played on Argentine soil, puts Corinthians in a comfortable position to seek qualification in front of their home fans.
The main news for the Alvinegra squad is the return of Memphis Depay, whose contract was extended, and he is now cleared to play. The Dutch forward is an important reinforcement, as the team did not have him or Yuri Alberto, who was injured, in the first match. Rosario Central, in turn, comes from a 1-0 victory over Barracas Central in their local league, while Corinthians lost 2-1 to Cruzeiro in their last Brazilian Serie A match.
Libertadores Regulations: No Extra Time or Away Goals Rule
For this knockout stage of the Libertadores, it’s essential to recall the tie-breaking rules. Unlike other competitions, Copa Libertadores knockout matches do not feature extra time if the aggregate score is tied. Furthermore, the away goals rule is also not applied.
This means that if the aggregate score of both matches ends in a draw, the decision for a quarter-final spot will go directly to a penalty shootout. This format increases the tension and excitement of the clashes, testing the composure of players during the spot-kicks.
Flamengo advances and awaits opponent
Flamengo has already secured their passage to the Libertadores quarter-finals. Last Wednesday, the Rubro-Negro team defeated Cruzeiro 2-1 at the Maracanã, confirming their qualification and keeping alive the dream of their fifth continental title. The team now focuses on the next stage, awaiting the determination of their opponent.
The Rubro-Negro’s next challenge will emerge from the clash between Tolima of Colombia and Independiente del Valle of Ecuador. There is great anticipation to see who will face the Rio de Janeiro club in pursuit of a spot in the semi-finals of South America’s most coveted competition.
Thursday will, therefore, be a watershed moment in the Libertadores, with Corinthians and Mirassol playing out high-tension moments. Qualifications for the quarter-finals not only boost the teams’ prestige but also bring them closer to the coveted continental title. The tournament remains vibrant, promising more thrilling chapters in the quest for South American glory, with Flamengo already guaranteed and attentive to the upcoming matchups.
Equipe M360
