The 2018 Copa Sudamericana first stage was played from 13 February to 23 May 2018.[1] A total of 44 teams competed in the first stage to decide 22 of the 32 places in the second stage of the 2018 Copa Sudamericana.[2]
The draw for the first stage was held on 20 December 2017, 20:00 PYST (UTC−3), at the CONMEBOL Convention Centre in Luque, Paraguay.[3] [4] For the first stage, the teams were divided into two pots according to their geographical zones:
The 44 teams were drawn into 22 ties (E1–E22) between a team from Pot A and a team from Pot B, with the teams from Pot B hosting the second leg in odd-numbered ties, and the teams from Pot A hosting the second leg in even-numbered ties. This distribution ensured that teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same tie.[5]
| +First stage draw | ||||
| Pot A (South Zone) | Pot B (North Zone) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| valign=top | valign=top |
In the first stage, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. 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 27).[2]
The 22 winners of the first stage advanced to the second stage to join the 10 teams transferred from the Copa Libertadores (two best teams eliminated in the third stage of qualifying and eight third-placed teams in the group stage).
The first legs were played on 13, 15, 20–22 February, 10–12 and 18 April, and the second legs were played on 6–8 March, 8–10 and 23 May 2018.[6] [7] |}
----Tied 2–2 on aggregate, Caracas won on away goals and advanced to the second stage.
----Deportes Temuco won 3–1 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Lanús won 5–4 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Deportivo Cali won 5–3 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----San Lorenzo won 1–0 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Tied 4–4 on aggregate, LDU Quito won on away goals and advanced to the second stage.
----Tied 0–0 on aggregate, Nacional won on penalties and advanced to the second stage.
----Cerro won 2–0 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Tied 3–3 on aggregate, Sol de América won on away goals and advanced to the second stage.
----General Díaz won 2–1 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Tied 2–2 on aggregate, Deportivo Cuenca won on penalties and advanced to the second stage.
----Rampla Juniors won 4–2 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Defensa y Justicia won 3–1 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Atlético Paranaense won 4–2 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Sport Huancayo won 3–0 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Boston River won 4–2 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----São Paulo won 1–0 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----El Nacional won 4–3 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Bahia won 4–1 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Colón won 3–0 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Botafogo won 3–2 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.
----Fluminense won 3–2 on aggregate and advanced to the second stage.