2024-04-22 11:57:23
After winning the 2023 Copa Sudamericana, Liga de Quito secured a place as the top seed in the 2024 Copa Libertadores draw. Los Albos will share Group D with Junior, Universitario and Botafogo. Josep Alcácer’s team will seek to match their performance in 2008, in which they lifted the title after beating Fluminense.
This Tuesday, March 19, 2024, Conmbeol published the schedule of the 48 matches corresponding to the group stage, so LDU already knows the days and times of its matches. The U will start as a visitor against Universitario, and will close at home against the same rival at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado.
Days and times of the Quito League matches
First date: vs. University student, visiting, on Tuesday 2/4 at 9 p.m. (Ecuador time)
Second close: vs. Botafogo, at home, on Thursday 11/4 at 5:00 p.m. (Ecuador time)
Third date: vs. Junior, as a visitor, on Tuesday 4/23 at 9 p.m. (Ecuador time)
Fourth date: vs. Botafogo, as a visitor, on Wednesday 8/5 at 7:30 p.m. (Ecuador time)
Fifth date: vs. Junior, at home, on Tuesday 5/14 at 5:00 p.m. (Ecuador time)
Sixth date: vs. University, locally, on Tuesday 5/28 at 5:00 p.m. (Ecuador time)
How is the Copa Libertadores played?
In the Group Stage, each team will play one home match and one away match against each of the other teams in the same group (six matches in total).
The teams placed first and second in each group will qualify for the Round of 16 Phase.
The eight teams placed in third position in their respective groups will qualify for the Round of 16 Playoff Phase of CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2024.
Quito League to Group D of the Libertadores.
The groups of the Copa Libertadores 2024
GROUP A: Fluminense, Cerro Porteño, Alianza Lima and Colo Colo
GROUP B: San Pablo, Barcelona, Talleres and Cobresal
GROUP C: Gremio, Estudiantes de La Plata, The Strongest and Huachipato
GROUP D: Quito League, Junior, University and Botafogo
GROUP E: Flamengo, Bolivar, Millonarios and Palestino
GROUP F: Palmeiras, Independiente del Valle, San Lorenzo and Liverpool
GROUP G: Peñarol, Atlético Mineiro, Rosario Central and Caracas
GROUP H: River, Libertad, Deportivo Táchira and Nacional
The groups of the Copa Libertadores.
The fortune that Botafogo spent to win the Libertadores
Botafogo has carried out an important transfer market, closing 11 signings so far. The most talked-about transfer was that of Luiz Henrique, a winger who arrived from Betis in exchange for 20 million dollars (16 million fixed and 4 million in variables). The 23-year-old Brazilian was a starter for Betis, but the amount Fogao paid was irresistible for the Spanish.
Luiz Henrique is joined by the arrivals of Carlos Alberto, Raul, Gregore, Wilson Manafá, Alexander Barboza, John, Jefferson Savarino, Lucas Halter, Jeffinho and Óscar Romero. The latter was presented in the preview of the Libertadores draw, where he posed with the Botafogo shirt.
Luiz Henrique in his presentation with Fogao. (@Botafogo)
In total, Fogao made an investment of 29.6 million dollars in the transfer market. The top 3 most expensive signings they made were Luiz Henrique ($20 million), Gregore ($2.7 million) and Jefferson Savarino ($2.6 million).
Botafogo spent more than double the entire budget of Liga de Quito in the transfer market, which is around 12 million dollars. Brazilian teams have great economic power, and Fogao did not save money on signings to seek the Libertadores title.
By: Diario OLÈ