Copa Libertadores

Copa Libertadores (South America) (Copa Libertadores, founded in 1960) - the main annual international club competition in South America organised by CONMEBOL. Regulations: clubs from CONMEBOL member associations take part, some places are decided through qualifying rounds and then a 32-team group stage is played in 8 groups of 4, with a double round-robin format, teams receive 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss, the top two in each group advance to the round of 16 and the third-placed team moves into the Copa Sudamericana knockout play-offs. If teams are level on points in the group, the tie-breakers are applied in order as goal difference, goals scored, away goals scored, CONMEBOL club ranking, then drawing of lots. From the round of 16, the competition is played as a knockout tournament, typically over two legs home and away, if the aggregate score is level the away-goals rule is not used and no extra time is played, the tie is decided by a penalty shoot-out, the final is a single match at a pre-selected neutral venue, if level after 90 minutes extra time is played and then, if needed, penalties.