The 2021 Copa Sudamericana group stage was played from 20 April to 27 May 2021.[1] A total of 32 teams competed in the group stage to decide eight of the 16 places in the final stages of the 2021 Copa Sudamericana.[2]
The draw for the group stage was held on 9 April 2021, 12:00 PYT (UTC−4), at the CONMEBOL Convention Centre in Luque, Paraguay.[3][4]
Teams were seeded by their CONMEBOL Clubs ranking as of 1 February 2021 (shown in parentheses),[5][6] taking into account the following three factors:[7]
Performance in the last 10 years, taking into account Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana results in the period 2011–2020.
Historical coefficient, taking into account Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana results in the period 1960–2010 and 2002–2010 respectively.
Local tournament champion, with bonus points awarded to domestic league champions of the last 10 years.
For the group stage, the 32 teams were drawn into eight groups (Groups A–H) of four containing a team from each of the four pots. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group, excluding the four losers of the Copa Libertadores third stage, which were seeded in Pot 4 and whose identity was not known at the time of the draw, and could be drawn into the same group with another team from the same association.
In the group stage, each group is played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The teams are ranked according to the following criteria: 1. Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss); 2. Goal difference; 3. Goals scored; 4. Away goals scored; 5. CONMEBOL ranking (Regulations Article 2.4.3).[2]
The winners of each group advanced to the round of 16 of the final stages.
Schedule[]
The schedule of each matchday was as follows (Regulations Article 2.2.2).[1][2][8][9][10][11]
^Rosario Central played their home match against Huachipato at Estadio Florencio Sola, Banfield (first re-scheduled at Estadio Pedro Bidegain, Buenos Aires)[14] instead of their regular stadium Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario.[15]
^Rosario Central played their home match against 12 de Octubre at Estadio Florencio Sola, Banfield instead of their regular stadium Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario.[16]
^ abcMontevideo City Torque played their home matches at Parque Alfredo Víctor Viera, Montevideo instead of their regular stadium Estadio Centenario, Montevideo.
^ abcBahia played their home matches at Estádio de Pituaçu, Salvador instead of their regular stadium Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador.
^Referee from Ecuador, who was originally assigned to the Bahia v Independiente match,[17][18] was replaced by Roberto Tobar from Chile.[19]
^The Bolívar v Arsenal match was originally scheduled for 21 April 2021, 21:30 UTC–3,[9] but was re-scheduled to 22 April 2021, 19:15 UTC–3.[20]
^Referee from Bolivia, who was originally assigned to the Metropolitanos v Melgar match was replaced by from Colombia.[12][13]
^ abcRiver Plate played their home matches at Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción instead of their regular stadium , Asunción which did not meet CONMEBOL requirements.
^Referee Wilmar Roldán from Colombia, who was originally assigned to the Corinthians v Peñarol match was replaced by Facundo Tello from Argentina.[22]
^ abcPalestino played their home matches at Estadio El Teniente, Rancagua instead of their regular stadium Estadio Municipal de La Cisterna, Santiago, which did not meet CONMEBOL requirements.
^The Palestino v Newell's Old Boys match, originally scheduled for 4 May 2021, 20:30 local time,[23] was re-scheduled to 22:00 local time.[24]
^The Talleres v Emelec match was originally scheduled for 22 April 2021, 21:30 local time,[23] but was re-scheduled to 16:00 local time.[20]
^ abThe Deportes Tolima v Emelec match, originally scheduled for 5 May 2021, 19:30 local time at Estadio Manuel Murillo Toro, Ibagué[23] was rescheduled for 7 May 2021, 19:00 local time at Estadio Monumental, Lima (Peru) due to civil unrest in Colombia.[25]
^Referee from Paraguay, who was originally assigned to the Deportes Tolima v Emelec match,[18] was replaced by Diego Haro from Peru.[26]
^The Red Bull Bragantino v Emelec match, originally scheduled for 11 May 2021, 21:30 local time,[23] was re-scheduled to 19:15 local time.[27]
^The Talleres v Deportes Tolima match, originally scheduled for 11 May 2021, 19:15 local time,[23] was re-scheduled to 21:30 local time.[27]
^Referee from Uruguay, who was originally assigned to the Talleres v Deportes Tolima match,[28] was replaced by Víctor Carrillo from Peru.[29]
^The Emelec v Deportes Tolima match, originally scheduled on 18 May 2021, 19:30 local time,[23] was re-scheduled to 19 May 2021, 17:15 local time.[30]
^ abThe La Equidad v Lanús match, originally scheduled for 6 May 2021, 19:30 local time at Estadio Centenario, Armenia[11] was rescheduled to 6 May 2021, 22:00 local time at Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción (Paraguay) due to civil unrest in Colombia.[34]
^Referee from Paraguay, who was originally assigned to the La Equidad v Lanús match,[18] was replaced by from Paraguay.[35]
Libertad (14)
Grêmio (3)
Bolívar (29)
San Lorenzo (15)
Huachipato
Montevideo City Torque
Melgar
Aucas
Metropolitanos
Deportes Tolima