The 2020 Copa Sudamericana first stage was played from 4 to 27 February 2020.[1] A total of 44 teams competed in the first stage to decide 22 of the 32 places in the second stage of the 2020 Copa Sudamericana.[2]
The draw for the first stage was held on 17 December 2019, 20:30 PYST (UTC−3), at the CONMEBOL Convention Centre in Luque, Paraguay.[3][4][5] For the first stage, the teams were divided into two pots according to their geographical zones:[6]
Pot A (South Zone): 22 teams from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay
Pot B (North Zone): 22 teams from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela
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.
BOL The identity of the teams Bolivia 1, Bolivia 2, Bolivia 3 and Bolivia 4 was not known at the time of the draw.
Format[]
In the first stage, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If tied on aggregate, the away goals rule was used. If still tied, extra time was not played, and a penalty shoot-out was used to determine the winner (Regulations Article 2.4.2).[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).
Matches[]
The first legs were played on 4–6 and 11–13 February, and the second legs were played on 18–20 and 25–27 February 2020.[7][8]
^The Emelec v Blooming match was originally scheduled for 20 February 2020, 19:30 local time, but was re-scheduled to 17:15 local time.[9]
^Plaza Colonia played their home match at Estadio Profesor Alberto Suppici, Colonia del Sacramento, instead of their regular stadium , Colonia del Sacramento, which does not meet CONMEBOL requirements.
^The El Nacional v Fénix match was originally scheduled for 19 February 2020, 19:30 local time, but was re-scheduled to 20 February 2020, 19:30 local time to avoid a clash with the first leg of the 2020 Recopa Sudamericana, which was scheduled on 19 February 2020.[11]
^Always Ready played their home match at Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, instead of their regular stadium , El Alto, which does not meet CONMEBOL requirements.[13]
^Liverpool played their home match at Estadio Luis Franzini, Montevideo, instead of their regular stadium Estadio Belvedere, Montevideo, which does not meet CONMEBOL requirements.