IFFHS CONTINENTAL NEWS - COPA LIBERTADORES
Picture : Pablo Solari is the first River Plate player to score 2+ goals coming off the bench in Copa Libertadores knock-out game since Gonzalo Higuain (against Corinthians in 2006).
Copa Libertadores: statistics on round of 16 games (2-4 August)
*River Plate (2-1 vs Internacional) participated in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores in each of the last 9 editions, the longest run for any team in the tournament since the same River Plate between 1995 and 2006 (12 editions in a row).
*Enner Valencia, a recent signing of Internacional, has scored his first goal in CONMEBOL club tournaments since August 2013, when he scored a brace against Universidad Católica for Emelec in Copa Sudamericana.
*Sergio Rochet became just the 2nd Internacional goalkeeper to make as many as 7 saves in a Copa Libertadores match over the last decade, along with Alisson Becker vs The Strongest (in 2015).
*Atlético Nacional (4-2 vs Racing Club) have scored 4+ goals in a knock-out stage game of the Copa Libertadores for the first time since 2016 when they, curiously, also have defeated an Argentine team (Huracán) as a home team in the round of 16 with same score 4-2.
*Flamengo (1-0 vs Olimpia Asunción) have won 13th home game in a row in Copa Libertadores. This is joint 4th longest such series in the history of tournament, along with Peñarol in 1965-1966.
The longer streaks were achieved El Nacional (19 games, 1983-1995), São Paulo (18 in 1992-2004) and Corinthians (14 in 1999-2003).
*Flamengo recorded 75% possession against Olimpia: they highest average possession in a Copa Libertadores match during the last decade.
*Bruno Henrique (Flamengo) has scored his 21st goal in Copa Libertadores, the same amount as two other Brazilian strikers, Célio and Jairzinho.
Only 4 Brazilians have scored more in the history of tournament: Gabriel Barbosa (31), Luizão (29), Palhinha (25) and Fred (25).
*Nacional (0-0 vs Boca Juniors) are still very shy at home against Argentine opposition. They have only won 2 of their last 15 Copa Libertadores home games vs Argentinean teams.
*Deportivo Pereira (1-0 vs Independiente del Valle) are the first rookie Colombian team to overcome the group stage of the Copa Libertadores since Cúcuta Deportivo did it in 2007 (they reached the semifinals).