Paraguay gives the positive note in the group stage of Copa Libertadores

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Cerro Porteño, Libertad and Olimpia have been three teams featured in the group stage of the continental tournament. The first two are already in the second round, and the third is on track

Leer en español: Paraguay da la nota positiva en la fase de grupos de Copa Libertadores

The 2019 edition of the Copa Libertadores Conmebol has brought a pleasant surprise for Paraguayan football because the teams representing the country in the tournament are currently leading their respective groups. It is important to remember that the last title obtained by a club in this country was in 2002, according to the newspaper As of Spain, "when Olimpia won the Brazilian Sao Caetano on penalties."

The Paraguayan clubs that "are a real threat in this edition of the continental contest," due to their excellent performance in the group stage are Olimpia, Cerro Porteño and Libertad, according to Marca.

You can also read: Copa Libertadores 2019 begins! Details of the tournament

Olympia

It is currently in group C, along with Godoy Cruz, Universidad de Concepción and Sporting Cristal; leads the standings with 9 points and so far has not lost any of their encounters, as it has 3 draws and 2 wins.

It should be noted that, after seven years without qualifying for the maximum competition, the Dean returned to the Copa Libertadores in 2012, the year in which it did not pass the first phase. However, in 2013, after 11 years, it managed to play the final against Atlético Mineiro, which it lost in the penalty shoot-out.

In 2016 it did not overcome the group stage, in the following season it managed to advance to the quarterfinals, and in the 2018 edition, it fell in the second phase, with a result of 2-3 against Junior of Colombia.

Cerro Porteño

Integrates the group E along with Nacional, Atlético Mineiro, and Zamora FC; Azulgrana leads the group with an almost perfect score, since, in their most recent game, played on April 25, they lost 2-1 against Zamora FC.

According to the Peruvian radio station RPP (Radio Programas del Perú), "Despite the reverse, Cerro Porteño continues to command Group E along with Nacional de Uruguay, both with 12 points and guaranteed places in the next phase, while Zamora and the Brazilian Atlético Nacional add 3 points per head."

In 2013, the club did not manage to overcome the group stage, obtaining only one point; in 2014, he fell in the second round against the Cruzeiro club in Brazil and in 2015 lost in the first phase 3-4 against the Táchira sports team.

Subsequently, in 2016, the team managed to advance to the second round of this competition, phase in which it was eliminated, after losing 2-1 at home and 3-1 as a visitor against Boca Juniors. In the 2017 edition, it failed to qualify for the Copa Libertadores and played the Copa Sudamericana, and in 2018 it lost in the second round against the Brazilian club Palmeiras.

Liberta

It is located in group H, along with Grêmio, Universidad Católica and Rosario Central and, like the other Paraguayan teams, it is the leader of the classification. In 2012, the club lost in the quarterfinals against the University of Chile and in the years 2013, 2015 and 2017 they could not overcome the group stage, and in 2018 they fell in the quarterfinals against Boca Juniors.

In the current edition, the Paraguayan teams have shown that mistakes can be learned a lot and that discipline, effort, and perseverance brings excellent results because they have outperformed the clubs that stood out in previous editions.

LatinAmerican Post | Andrea del Pilar Rojas Riaño

Translated from "Paraguay da la nota positiva en la fase de grupos de Copa Libertadores"