Copa Libertadores 2008: River to Face San Lorenzo in Round of 16

By: Christian | April 23rd, 2008

River Plate will face a familiar foe in their quest to reach the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals, as they are set to meet local Primera rivals San Lorenzo de Almagro. Today’s draw set up the ties for the round of 16, with River and San Lorenzo the only fixture in which teams from the same country will compete against one another.

While every game at his point in the Copa will be difficult, this draw presents a unique challenge. San Lorenzo did not start off the season well, and struggled to even score goals. But the team has found its form of late, rising all the way to 4th position in the league table.

The storylines will almost certainly center on San Lorenzo’s coach Ramón Díaz, who in 1996 led River Plate to their last Copa title, and on former star player Andrés D’Alessandro.

The first match will be played April 30th, with the second leg May 7th. Should River advance they will face the winner of Estudiantes and LDU Quito.

Full Fixtures:
Fluminense (Brazil) – Atlético Nacional (Colombia)
Flamengo (Brazil) – América (México)
River (Argentina) – San Lorenzo (Argentina)
Atlas (México) – Lanús (Argentina)
Cruzeiro (Brazil) – Boca (Argentina)
Estudiantes (Argentina) – Liga de Quito (Ecuador)
Cúcuta Deportivo (Colombia) – Santos (Brazil)
Sao Paulo (Brazil) – Nacional (Uruguay)

Category: Argentina, Copa Libertadores, Team News

Tags: Argentina, Copa Libertadores, Team News

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Comments  

• Ian Rose |  April 23rd, 2008 at 10:29 pm

  
  
  

  Strange that River might face Argentine sides in both the rounds of 16 and 8. They could be in the semis before they have to leave the country again.

  Posted from United States

  

• Gonzalo |  April 23rd, 2008 at 11:57 pm

  
  
  

  We can even reach the finals before leaving the country (if we face Estudiantes in Quarter finals, and Boca/Lanus in Semis).

  Posted from United States

  

• Mark |  April 25th, 2008 at 5:03 am

  
  
  

  This is a good draw in my opinion, River will know exactly what to expect and preparations will be easier. However, this will also be the case for San Lorenzo.

  Posted from United States

  

• Gonzalo |  April 25th, 2008 at 3:35 pm

  
  
  

  Tough game, don’t underestimate it. San Lorenzo is full of great players (D’Alessandro, Bergessio, Placente, Silvera… just to name a few) and a fantastic coach (Ramon Diaz; the most successful River coach). When we faced them earlier on this year (2-0 for the Clausura), they were finding it difficult to find their rhythm, but now that they are on form they are arguably one of the best (if not THE best) Argentine team.

  Don’t get me wrong, I know River have the players to beat CASLA, but it will be anything but easy. We could have faced Audax Italiano (CHI) or Lanus (ARG) depending on the yesterday’s Copa results, and I honestly would have prefered either one of those two teams A THOUSAND times over San Lorenzo.

  Posted from United States

  

• Mark |  April 26th, 2008 at 3:52 am

  
  
  

  I didn’t mean it would be easy Gonzalo, only that preparing for the game would be easier and would take away the prospect of long travelling times for the away leg. Of course there will have been easier draws for River, but this is a game we can win.

  Posted from United States

  

• Mark |  April 26th, 2008 at 4:54 am

  
  
  

  What time will the games involving River and Boca kick off, so i can work out what time that will be in the UK?

  Posted from United States

  

• Christian |  April 26th, 2008 at 6:30 am

  
  
  

  Hey Mark, the match will be at 3PM ET.

  Posted from United States

  

Comments are closed