What Cruzeiro needs to advance in the Copa Sudamericana

Cruzeiro completed, this Tuesday (23), the first half of the group stage of the Copa Sudamericana. In Group B, the celestial team has 3 points, with three draws against Universidad Católica-EQU (0 to 0), Alianza-COL (3 to 3) and Unión La Calera-CHI (0 to 0).

Universidad leads with 4 points, the same score as La Calera, second-place. Alianza is fourth and lantern, with 1, while Cruzeiro is third.

The scenario, however, will still change tonight. Alianza and Universidad will face each other at 11pm (Brasília time) this Tuesday. The first placed team goes directly to the round of 16, while the second in the group will compete in a playoff.

This playoff, in round-trip games, will be played with a team in third place in a Copa Libertadores group.

Cruzeiro’s next game in the South American Championship will be on May 7, against Alianza, in Valledupar, Colombia. Until then, the celestial team will have two games, both for the Brazilian Championship, on April 28th and May 4th.

To at least have a chance of competing in the playoffs, Cruzeiro will need a victory. For direct classification, two victories, without one defeat, can guarantee the celestial team as leader of Group B.

Cruzeiro table in the group stage of the Copa Sudamericana

Round 1: Universidad Católica-EQU 0 x 0 Cruzeiro – 04/04 (Thursday), at 9pm, at Olímpico Atahualpa, in Quito
Round 2: Cruzeiro 3 x 3 Alianza-COL – 11/4 (Thursday), at 9pm, at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte
Round 3: Unión La Calera-CHI 0 x 0 Cruzeiro – 4/23 (Tuesday), at 7pm, at Municipal de Concepción, in Concepción
Round 4: Alianza-COL x Cruzeiro – 7/05 (Tuesday), at 9:30 pm, at Armando Maestre Pavajeau, in Valledupar
Round 5: Cruzeiro x Unión La Calera-CHI – 05/16 (Thursday), at 9pm, at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte
Round 6: Cruzeiro x Universidad Católica-EQU – 05/30 (Thursday), at 9pm, at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte

Next game

Cruzeiro will return to the field on Sunday (28), at 6pm. The celestial team will host Vitória, at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte, for the fourth round of the Brazilian Championship.