It’s time for the most ridiculous international club football competition in the world – the Copa Sudamericana – to enter its last sixteen stage. The uniquely television-obsessed way the tournament is organised means that invitees Boca Juniors and River Plate will play their first matches tonight, one round later than Arsenal de Sarandí, who are the defending champions. For all this week’s kick off times, read on.
Boca get things started, taking on Copa Libertadores holders Liga de Quito in La Bombonera in the first quarter-final. They’re doing so with a very inexperienced backline: Julio Barroso makes his first start (he’s played 20 minutes for the first team before tonight), two of the back four make their debuts tonight and another has played only four times for the first team.
A little later in the evening, there’s an all-Argentine tie between Estudiantes and Arsenal, the first leg of which is in La Plata. Argentinos play San Luís de Potosí of Bolivia tomorrow, whilst River Plate take on Defensor Sporting in Montevideo on Thursday.
This list is taken from CONMEBOL’s website, which doesn’t make it clear, but I assume all kick off times are local to Asunción, where CONMEBOL are based.
Copa Sudamericana 2008, last sixteen:
23rd September:
Boca Juniors vs. Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito (ECU), 19:30
Estudiantes de La Plata vs. Arsenal Fútbol Club, 21:45
24th September:
San Luís de Potosí (BOL) vs. Argentinos Juniors, 19:45
América de Cali (COL) vs. Botafogo (BRA), 20:00
Guadalajara (MEX) vs. Atlético Paranaense (BRA), 20:00
Sport Áncash (PER) vs. Palmeiras (BRA), 20:00
25th September:
Defensor Sporting (URU) vs. River Plate, 20:00
Universidad Católica (CHI) vs. Internacional (BRA), 21:15
Hasta El Gol Siempre 