2016 Copa Libertadores final stages explained

The 2016 Copa Libertadores final stages were played from 26 April to 27 July 2016. A total of 16 teams competed in the final stages to decide the champions of the 2016 Copa Libertadores.[1] Atlético Nacional won the title by defeating Independiente del Valle in the finals.

Qualified teams

The winners and runners-up of each of the eight groups in the second stage qualified for the final stages.

Groupwidth=200Winnerswidth=200Runners-up
1 River Plate São Paulo
2 Rosario Central Nacional
3 Boca Juniors Racing
4 Atlético Nacional Huracán
5 Atlético Mineiro Independiente del Valle
6 Toluca Grêmio
7 UNAM Deportivo Táchira
8 Corinthians Cerro Porteño

Seeding

The qualified teams were seeded in the final stages according to their results in the second stage, with the group winners seeded 1–8, and the group runners-up seeded 9–16.

Format

In the final stages, the 16 teams played a single-elimination tournament, with the following rules:[1]

  • Each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, with the higher-seeded team hosting the second leg (Regulations Article 3.4). However, CONMEBOL required that the second leg of the finals had to be played in South America, i.e., if there was a finalist from Mexico, they would have to host the first leg regardless of seeding (Regulations Article 3.7b).
  • In the round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, if tied on aggregate, the away goals rule would be used. If still tied, extra time would not be played, and the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (Regulations Article 5.2).
  • In the finals, if tied on aggregate, the away goals rule would not be used, and 30 minutes of extra time would be played. If still tied after extra time, the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (Regulations Article 5.3).
  • If there were two semifinalists from the same association, they would have to play each other (Regulations Article 3.6).

Bracket

The bracket of the final stages was determined by the seeding as follows:[1]

  • Round of 16:
    • Match A: Seed 1 vs. Seed 16
    • Match B: Seed 2 vs. Seed 15
    • Match C: Seed 3 vs. Seed 14
    • Match D: Seed 4 vs. Seed 13
    • Match E: Seed 5 vs. Seed 12
    • Match F: Seed 6 vs. Seed 11
    • Match G: Seed 7 vs. Seed 10
    • Match H: Seed 8 vs. Seed 9
  • Quarterfinals:
    • Match S1: Winner A vs. Winner H
    • Match S2: Winner B vs. Winner G
    • Match S3: Winner C vs. Winner F
    • Match S4: Winner D vs. Winner E
  • Semifinals: (if there were two semifinalists from the same association, they would have to play each other)
    • Match F1: Winner S1 vs. Winner S4
    • Match F2: Winner S2 vs. Winner S3
  • Finals: Winner F1 vs. Winner F2

Round of 16

The first legs were played on 26–28 April, and the second legs were played on 3–5 May 2016.[2]

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Match A

----Atlético Nacional won 4–2 on aggregate and advanced to the quarterfinals (Match S1).

Match B

----UNAM won 2–1 on aggregate and advanced to the quarterfinals (Match S2).

Match C

----Tied 2–2 on aggregate, Nacional won on away goals and advanced to the quarterfinals (Match S3).

Match D

----Atlético Mineiro won 2–1 on aggregate and advanced to the quarterfinals (Match S4).

Match E

----São Paulo won 5–3 on aggregate and advanced to the quarterfinals (Match S4).

Match F

----Boca Juniors won 5–2 on aggregate and advanced to the quarterfinals (Match S3).

Match G

----Independiente del Valle won 2–1 on aggregate and advanced to the quarterfinals (Match S2).

Match H

----Rosario Central won 4–0 on aggregate and advanced to the quarterfinals (Match S1).

Quarterfinals

The first legs were played on 11–12 and 17 May, and the second legs were played on 18–19 and 24 May 2016.[3]

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Match S1

----Atlético Nacional won 3–2 on aggregate and advanced to the semifinals (Match F1).

Match S2

----Tied 3–3 on aggregate, Independiente del Valle won on penalties and advanced to the semifinals (Match F2).

Match S3

----Tied 2–2 on aggregate, Boca Juniors won on penalties and advanced to the semifinals (Match F2).

Match S4

----Tied 2–2 on aggregate, São Paulo won on away goals and advanced to the semifinals (Match F1).

Semifinals

The first legs were played on 6–7 July, and the second legs were played on 13–14 July 2016.[4]

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Match F1

----Atlético Nacional won 4–1 on aggregate and advanced to the finals.

Match F2

----Independiente del Valle won 5–3 on aggregate and advanced to the finals.

Finals

See main article: article and 2016 Copa Libertadores Finals.

The first leg was played on 20 July, and the second leg was played on 27 July 2016.[5]

|}----Atlético Nacional won 2–1 on aggregate.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Copa Bridgestone Libertadores 2016 – Reglamento. Spanish. CONMEBOL.com.
  2. Web site: Copa Bridgestone Libertadores: CONMEBOL confirma fechas y horarios de partidos de octavos de final. CONMEBOL.com. 22 April 2016.
  3. Web site: Definida la programación de los Cuartos de Final de la Bridgestone Libertadores. CONMEBOL.com. 6 May 2016.
  4. Web site: Se confirmaron fechas y horarios de las Semifinales de la Copa Bridgestone Libertadores. CONMEBOL.com. 25 May 2016.
  5. Web site: Fechas y horarios confirmados para los juegos finales de la Copa Bridgestone Libertadores. CONMEBOL.com. 15 July 2016.