The 2022 Copa Libertadores draw produced a tough group for Boca, which will face Corinthians from Brazil, among others, while River had it more accessible, while Vélez and Estudiantes de La Plata will share the first phase.
Boca will lead group E and will share it with Corinthians from Brazil, Deportivo Cali (Colombia) and Always Ready (Bolivia). A Brazilian rival of proven hierarchy, a big team from Colombia and a team that plays at altitude, more than 4000 meters above sea level, round off an unfavorable draw for the team led by Sebastián Battaglia.
Something simpler seems to be River’s fixture, which will be part of Group F, along with Colo Colo from Chile, Alianza Lima from Peru and Fortaleza from Brazil. Although it also has a Brazilian rival, it is not one of the most important teams nor does it have a great history or experience in this type of competition. Among the possible rivals that Colo Colo and Alianza Lima could touch are two mid-level opponents, so the theory is that Marcelo Gallardo’s team should not have major problems to advance to the round.
In turn, Vélez and Estudiantes de La Plata will share group C led by Nacional from Uruguay and completed by Bragantino from Brazil, an area with a difficult forecast, without big favorites and with four teams with specific qualification aspirations. The outlook is also difficult for Colón de Santa Fe, who ended up in group G, with Cerro Porteño and Olimpia -the classic Guarani-, and Peñarol from Uruguay. The last Argentine team to be drawn was Talleres de Córdoba, which will share group H with Flamengo from Brazil, Universidad Católica de Chile and Sporting Cristal from Peru.
Meanwhile, the current two-time champion Palmeiras had fortune on his side, with a very simple group along with Emelec from Ecuador, Deportivo Táchira from Venezuela and Independiente Petrolero from Bolivia.
The group stage is scheduled to start on April 5 and end on May 26, then the round of 16 will be played between June 28 and July 7, the quarterfinals from August 2 to 11 of that month. , the semifinals from August 30 to September 8, and the final will be on October 29 in the city of Guayaquil in Ecuador.
The group schedule was defined as follows:
Group A: Palmeiras (Brazil), Emelec (Ecuador), Deportivo Táchira (Venezuela), Independiente Petroleto (Bolivia).
B Group: Atlético Paranense (Brazil), Libertad (Paraguay), Caracas (Venezuela), The Strongest (Bolivia).
Group C: National (Uruguay), Vélez, Bragantino (Brazil), Students of La Plata.
Group D: Atlético Mineiro (Brazil), Independiente del Valle (Ecuador), Deportes Tolima (Colombia), América Mineiro (Brazil).
Group E: Boca, Corinthians (Brasil), Deportivo Cali (Colombia), Always Ready (Bolivia).
Group F: River, Colo Colo (Chile), Alianza Lima (Peru), Fortaleza (Brazil).
Group G: Peñarol (Uruguay), Cerro Porteño (Paraguay), Colón de Santa Fe, Olimpia (Paraguay).
Group H: Flamengo (Brazil), Catholic University (Chile), Sporting Cristal (Peru), Córdoba Workshops.